Uncommon Benefits of Drinking Wine

There are numerous benefits of drinking wine. While drinking too much alcohol can be dangerous to your health, the health benefits from wine consumption are from moderate consumption, which is defined as 1 to 2 4-ounce glasses per day by the American Heart Association. It is recommended that women consume no more than one glass of wine per day and no more than one or two for men. So, the next time you uncork a bottle of wine, keep these uncommon benefits in mind.

Red wine can help you lose those extra pounds.

While consuming alcohol is generally associated with weight gain, a study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine March 2010 revealed this is not always the case. Almost 20,000 individuals were tracked during this thirteen-year study, noting that by the end many of the women gained weight. It is important to note that the group that gained the most were the ones who abstained from drinking, gaining an average of eight pounds. An average of only 3.4 pounds was gained by those who drank.

Wine can keep your memory sharp.

One of the uncommon benefits of drinking wine is its ability to help keep you mentally sharp. Researchers have found evidence suggesting low to moderate drinking in the elderly helps to protect against cognitive deterioration and dementia. However, it is important to note that more research must be done to determine the exact drinking pattern for optimal results.

A study published in 2010 in the journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica of 5,033 stroke-free men and women after researchers tracked them for seven years, revealed the effect of alcohol on cognition. Men and women showed the same results with moderate wine consumption having better performance on cognition tests. In fact, women who did not drink performed worse on tests than those who drank.

Red or white wine may reduce blood sugar levels.

There may be health benefits in drinking white or red wine if you need to lower your blood sugar level. In a study printed in the Annals of Internal Medicine in October 2015, it was revealed that scientists found that individuals diagnosed with stage 2 diabetes who consumed a glass of white or red wine during supper had a lower glucose level than those who consumed a glass of water instead. In fact, this is not the first research to show a correlation between safe blood sugar and wine.

In this study, 224 participants with controlled stage 2 diabetes were casually assigned to consume either red or white wine, or mineral water every night with supper for two years. Each participant followed the Mediterranean diet without any calorie restrictions.

Researchers saw a small improvement in glucose breakdown in those participants who drank white or red wine.

Wine can enhance the immune system of those who moderately consume.

In a study printed in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2002, it was discovered that consuming a reasonable amount of wine (red or white) can help an individual develop an immunity against two-hundred viruses that cause the common cold.

Over 4,000 staff members from five Spanish colleges were included in this study. Participants were asked to maintain a diary of any colds they may develop during the time of the study. Results from this research found that those who consumed more than fourteen glasses of wine each week were at a 40 percent decreased chance of catching a cold than those who consume less wine.

Wine can fight off tooth decay.

If you are one that takes delight in sweet red wine, you can be happy to know that red wine can also help in the prevention of tooth decay. Antibacterial properties are an aspect of red wine, which means your shining whites will have fewer bacteria attacking. In a study printed in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2014, scientists looked at the possibility of red wine or other compounds fighting off bacteria that caused cavities. The scientists grew cultures (biofilm) of bacteria and then dipped it into various liquids, that included red wine, red wine spiked with grape seed extract, red wine without alcohol, and water with 12% ethanol. The scientists found that the red wine with or without alcohol, as well as grape seed extract, fight off bacteria.

Moderate consumption of wine can be good for the heart.

It has been revealed in numerous studies that drinkers of red wine have higher levels of HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is considered the “good cholesterol” and is responsible for protecting your heart. Additionally, red wine is known to keep the blood thin, meaning there is a decreased chance of clotting in the arteries or brain.

In a paper printed in the International Journal of Angiology in 2009, it was asked whether it was proper for a physician to recommend red wine as part of a treatment for cardiovascular disease. The authors determined that regular, reasonable consumption of red wine should be encouraged. Perhaps, one or two glasses a day with dinner. This moderate consumption would lead to a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease in addition to other pathologies like respiratory infections, peptic ulcer disease, macular degeneration, cholelithiasis, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, nephrolithiasis, and cancer.

Wine can lower the risk of developing prostate cancer.

This uncommon benefit of drinking wine is for those men out there who like to indulge in a glass of their favorite red now and again. Published in the journal Clinical Epidemiology in 2018, 17 studies were reviewed by researchers to determine whether or not wine consumption affected an individual’s risk of prostate cancer. The review was specifically focused on red versus white wine. The researchers in the study reviewed the results from 611,169 patients and found that a moderate amount of red wine consumption protected an individual against developing prostate cancer while consuming a moderate amount of white wine increased an individual’s risk of developing prostate cancer.

Wine can decrease the risk of depression.

In a study of 5,500 light-to-moderate drinkers over a course of seven years, it was revealed that those who moderately consumed wine was less likely to suffer from depression. The reasoning for this is the positive effects that compounds like resveratrol has on areas of the brain that controls moods. The amount of consumption was two to seven drinks per week. It is important to note; however, high consumption of alcohol was associated with higher rates of depression.

Wine can reduce stroke risk.

In a study of more than 80,000 females age 30 to 55, it was found that moderate drinkers were twenty percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who did not drink. It was also revealed that resveratrol may enhance an enzyme that is responsible for protecting brain cells from the damage of a stroke.

This is just a handful of the many benefits that are being discovered every day from drinking wine. It is always important to remember that these and more benefits can be experienced from moderate consumption of wine only. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism as well as other short and long-term health concerns. If you or someone you care about are struggling with an addiction to alcohol seek help as soon as possible.