There’s a saying that “a glass of red wine a day keeps the doctor away”. I’m lying, that’s an apple a day, but I’m sure you’re picking up what I’m putting down. A glass of wine, more particularly red, can keep the doctor at bay- that is only when enjoyed in moderation.
Wine production involves a fermentation process, during which the makeup of ordinary grape juice (must) is changed and the drink becomes more nutritious and loaded with antioxidants, which protect your body (cells) from cellular damage. Additionally, as the skin of grapes is used in wine making, the antioxidants therein including resveratrol end up in the wine. Also, it’s worth noting that the darker the colour of the grapes, the more the antioxidant content- which means that red wine contains more antioxidants than white.
Red wine benefits
- Wine has cancer fighting benefits- resveratrol in red wine can protect against damage caused by carcinogens and prevent tumors from growing, and also acts as an antioxidant that can fight cancer.
- Reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease (which often leads to heart attacks).
- Healthy skin-antioxidants like polyphenols in wine protect the skin from ageing by preserving collagen
- Lowers cholesterol- polyphenol antioxidants in wine may lower LDL levels(low-density lipoprotein- the bad form of cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol levels (high-density lipoprotein- good cholesterol).
- Polyphenols in red wine help to manage blood sugar levels hence lowering the risk of developing diabetes
- Lowers blood pressure
- Slows down aging process
- Resveratrol compound in wine reduces inflammation
- Wine acts as a blood thinner, hence reducing the risk of blood clots from forming in the heart and blood vessels- ultimately this lowers the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
As wonderful as wine is there is unfortunately a downside; ethanol. Wine contains alcohol, which should always be had in moderation considering the negative impact alcohol can have on your body. Continuous consumption of alcohol in large amounts can lead to addiction or alcohol dependence, which will eventually cause severe health problems to the heart, liver and many other parts of the body. Drinking more wine than is necessary will cause you more harm than good…
Too much of anything isn’t good for anyone.
Ray Bradbury
Remember; good manners and good wine are timeless. Cheers to a life well-lived,
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