Red Wine: Let's Drink to Your Health

You might have heard a rumor you were afraid to believe that red wine is good for you. It is a fact supported by research. Let's take a closer look at what science has shown are four significant benefits of red wine for your health.

1. Red wine has resveratrol, which could reduce the risks of some serious health conditions.

Resveratrol is a natural stilbene found in the skins of the grapes used to make red wine. Resveratrol is touted to be helpful in the prevention of cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, metabolic, and age-related diseases. The buzz about resveratrol began in the 1980s when researchers noticed a mysterious correlation between health and diet in France, which became known as the French Paradox.

2. Red wine's resveratrol is also an antioxidant.

Antioxidants are essential to your health because they remove potentially harmful oxidizing agents that are in your body. In addition to its antioxidant properties, resveratrol is instrumental in protecting the linings of the blood vessels, prevents clotting, and serves to reduce some of the harmful cholesterol.

3. Drinking a glass of red wine could have the same benefits as one hour at the gym.

In 2016, a new study from the University of Alberta, Canada suggested resveratrol has the same effects on the body as exercise does. Does that mean you should quit going to the gym? Nope. The research also shows that the amount we would need to drink to completely replace the benefits of exercise is more than a human should drink, ever.

4. A glass of red wine is a low Glycemic beverage.

A 5 oz glass of red wine scores a big fat zero on the GI. However, those five ounces of red wine have carbs (3.8 grams) and sugar (.9 grams) and around 125 calories. Also, it's alcohol, so all the regular cautions are in play here.

So, the rumors are true. Red wine is good for you, as long as it is consumed in moderation.