Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, water, or other nutrients. Yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different styles of wine. The well-known variations result from the very complex interactions between the biochemical development of the fruit, reactions involved in fermentation, terroir and subsequent appellation, along with human intervention in the overall process.
Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and protecting against artery damage.
While the news about red wine might sound great if you enjoy a glass of red wine with your evening meal, doctors are wary of encouraging anyone to start drinking alcohol. That’s because too much alcohol can have many harmful effects on your body.Still, many doctors agree that something in red wine appears to help your heart. It’s possible that antioxidants, such as flavonoids or a substance called resveratrol, have heart-healthy benefits.
How is red wine heart healthy?
Red wine seems to have even more heart-healthy benefits than do other types of alcohol, but it’s possible that red wine isn’t any better than beer, white wine or liquor for heart health. There’s still no clear evidence that red wine is better than other forms of alcohol when it comes to possible heart-healthy benefits.
Antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. A polyphenol called resveratrol is one substance in red wine that’s gotten attention.
It’s now generally accepted that drinking a glass or two of red wine can have health benefits. Moderate red wine consumption has been found to help prevent heart attacks, increase the amount of HDL “good” cholesterol and decrease the chances of blood clotting. Red wine also has anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it can be helpful in reducing pain associated with some chronic conditions. Flavonoids, the antioxidant found in red wine, can help prevent cancer.
But what about white wine? Do these have any beneficial properties?
White wine has many of the same positive health benefits as red wine. It, too, contains flavonoids that have antioxidant properties, which can help prevent cancer.
White wine also has the ability to protect the heart against aging, which can provide preventive benefits to the organ, though not all whites have the power to do so.