There has been a lot of research and news on wine and health over the years. Overall, drinking small amounts (1-2 glasses of wine) most days appears to offer health benefits for those people who choose to drink. Researchers are always careful to add however, that alcohol affects people in different ways and consumption patterns are key, as heavy or binge-drinking poses many serious health risks.
Healthy hearts
The benefits of alcohol, particularly red wine, have been linked to a healthy heart. After baffling scientists for years, red wine has emerged as one of the reasons for the French paradox or finding that the French have traditionally high saturated fat diets and low rates of heart disease. Red wine contains potent antioxidants known as polyphenols that offer many cardio protective properties.
Protect your cells
Wine has also been linked with reduced risks of lung and prostate cancer, although the data is still emerging and not yet conclusive. One study on lung cancer risk published in the November 2004 issue of Thorax, showed positive benefits from moderate red wine consumption but not with white wine. A separate study also published in 2004, showed that consuming a glass of red wine every day may cut a man’s risk of prostate cancer in half. However, the same cannot be said for breast cancer. Drinking too much alcohol is thought to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Weight a minute!
Before you toast to good health every night, it’s also worth keeping in mind that wine, or any alcohol for that matter, is high in kilojoules and this must be factored into a healthy eating or weight loss plan.
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