For most people, nothing completes a dinner meal than a hearty glass of red vino. Little do they know that red wine has many more health benefits than just relieving stress at the end of a long day.
Here are just a few health reasons why you should make red wine a part of your daily diet.
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It Promotes Good Eyesight
Red wine contains a beneficial antioxidant known as Resveratrol, which prevents the unnatural and dangerous expansion of blood vessels in the eyes. In the long term, this helps to slow down macular degeneration in old age and prevents eyesight failure. This antioxidant is so powerful that it can even provide an added benefit for retinopathy in diabetics.
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It Protects and Strengthens Your Teeth and Bones
Having excess bacteria in your mouth can lead to cavities, damaged teeth, and gingivitis. Drinking red wine has the potential to reduce the amount of microorganisms that proliferate in your mouth, thus protecting your teeth from developing harmful bacteria.
Likewise, consuming red wine introduces a high amount of silicon to your system, which then increases bone mineral density to protect the bones from degenerating. In the long run, this strengthens your bones and prevents diseases like osteoporosis and brittle bones. In fact, drinking wine could have a similar effect in strengthening your bones as that of going to the gym! Now, that deserves a toast.
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Chase Away Diabetes
The resveratrol antioxidant also increases insulin sensitivity, thus significantly reducing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Red wine also contains polyphenols which helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, while ensuring the healthy development and storage of fat. Now, with the threat of diabetes taken care of, you can indulge your sweet tooth without having to worry about how it will impact your insulin levels.
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Decrease your Chances of Getting a Stroke
Unlike other forms of alcohol, red wine actively reduces your chances of developing ischemic stroke. Consuming red wine on a regular but moderate basis naturally thins the blood, thus preventing dangerous blood clots that could lead to a stroke. Again, resveratrol is to thank for the blood thinning effect of the phenols found in wine.
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Decrease Your Risk of Getting Degenerative Diseases
Liver disease is one of the leading causes of premature death in modern day society. However, “research shows that drinking red wine can go a long way to decrease the risk of developing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)”, says Abraham, wine sommelier at Vini e Capricci.
Red wine has also been known to lower the risk of developing even the most aggressive types of cancer. Thanks to antioxidants like flavonoids and resveratrol drinking red wine improves your body’s ability to fight off free radicals which promote the growth of cancerous cells. This, in turn, lessens your risk of developing cancer in the prostate, breasts and colon. Suddenly a daily glass of cabernet sauvignon doesn’t seem like a bad idea after all.
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Fight Depression and Improve Mental Health
Sure, drinking a glass of wine is a relaxing way to unwind, but did you know that drinking red wine specifically, can help you fight depression as well? Regular wine drinkers are less likely to get depressed, even when confronted with stressful lifestyle dynamics, because wine reduces the anxiety associated with perceived stress.
On a relative note, red wine also contains antioxidants that promote a healthy supply of blood flow to the brain, reducing brain damage while preventing the death of precious brain neurons. The resveratrol found in wine is also well-known for its memory improving properties, as it helps to strengthen the part of your brain that responds to learning, developing memories and emotions. This leads to improved mental health and reduces the development of mental ailments such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
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Enhance Your Immune System
Inflammation is one of the leading culprits behind many of today’s health afflictions, so it’s a good thing that red wine has anti-inflammatory properties to help you ward off colds and flu. Also, the moderately drinking wine has been shown to considerably boost the immune system, but only when consumed in reasonable amounts and in a responsible manner. You know what they say about too much of a good thing…
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Prevent Heart Disease
Wine contains beneficial antioxidants that naturally lower the levels of bad cholesterol in your system, while increasing the good cholesterol that helps to fight off heart disease. The procyanidins found in red wine tannins also contains phenols that stop free radicals in their tracks, while proactively preventing heart disease.
As if that weren’t enough, wine also promotes the presence of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids which improve blood circulation. This prevents the formation of blood clots while simultaneously acting as a protective mechanism against artery damage. Now that deserves a toast: here’s to plaque-free heart vessels!
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It Helps You To Look Younger and Live Longer
Mediterranean inhabitants are known to have long lifespans, and this can be partly attributed to their religious consumption of red wine on a daily basis. From the Island of Crete to Ikaria, this centenarian-rich zone proves that daily wine intake coupled with a mostly plant-based diet can be the secret to a long life. The tannins in red wine have greater concentrations of the procyanidins compound, which is known to stimulate optimal cardiovascular health while protecting the body from the development of aging free radicals. Red wine has also been known to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, as well the effects of sun damage, all leading to a more youthful appearance.
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It Prevents Breakouts and Promotes Healthy Skin
Due to its antibacterial properties, the resveratrol found in red wine is great at preventing the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Granted, there are some topical creams which contain resveratrol, but so far it’s been found to be more effective to drink the antioxidant than to apply it topically.
As with anything good, it’s important to drink red wine in moderation. Overdoing it with your consumption of wine could lead to a significant health risk that will cancel the benefits of drinking it in the first place. The recommended healthy dose is one glass per day with dinner, or two on special occasions. This is more than enough to reap all the benefits mentioned, and then some.
