Kicking back with a glass of wine after a long day is one of the best ways to de-stress. Plus, if you regularly drink red wine in moderation, you are steps ahead toward leading a healthy life. Red wine is made by crushing and fermenting dark-colored, whole grapes. The alcohol content usually ranges from 12 to 15 percent, depending upon the type of red wine. Red wine has a good amount of powerful antioxidants, including resveratrol and proanthocyanidins.
These antioxidants are believed to be responsible for the various health benefits of red wine. Studies have proven that moderate intake of red wine could actually keep the doctor away. Moderate consumption of wine as defined by the American Heart Association is one glass of wine for women and one to two for men in a day.
Protects Your Heart
A glass of red wine daily can greatly improve your level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol) as well as lower your level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol). This is mainly due to the presence of the antioxidants resveratrol and catechins in red wine that help protect the arterial walls. A 1999 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reports that red wine inhibits the cell mediated oxidation of lipoproteins that helps maintain good cholesterol levels. The study also reports that white wine is not as effective as red wine and that the effect of the red wine is not due to its ethanol content. In a 2003 study, scientists at the University of California, Davis identified a group of chemicals called saponins in red wine to have the ability to lower cholesterol. Red wine is a good source of dietary saponins. In fact, 1 glass of red wine contains almost half the amount of average daily dietary saponin content needed by the body. In addition, the polyphenols in red wine can help keep your blood vessels flexible and reduce the risk of unwanted clotting. This in turn reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and keeps your heart healthy. Plus, red wine increases the body’s level of omega-3 fatty acids, which are also known to have protective effects on the heart and blood circulation. Moderate red wine consumption can help reduce cardioascular risk factors.
Lowers High Blood Pressure
Drinking red wine in moderation can also help lower high blood pressure. The rich antioxidant content in red wine is good for reducing vascular oxidative stress that contributes to high blood pressure. Plus, it increases plasma nitric oxide levels which in turn relaxes the walls of blood vessels and improves blood flow. A 2012 study published in Circulation Research found that dealcoholized red wine decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increases plasma nitric oxide. This could be useful for the prevention of low to moderate hypertension. To enjoy the blood pressure lowering benefits of red wine, make sure you drink non-alcoholic red wine.
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