Is red wine good for you

Wine is an alcoholic drink usually made of fermented grape juice. The wine recipe is very old. Methods of viticulture and wine production were founded around 6000 BC, in the lands of today’s Iran and Georgia. Around 4500 BC, the wine emerged in Europe, first in the Balkans peninsula, and, it was very much respected in the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. The Greeks frequently studied the medicinal use of wine. Besides the variety of tastes, wine offers great health benefits. Moderate red wine consumption may help protect against cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, red wine is effective in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels

Health benefits of red wine

Chemical compounds found in the red wine, especially flavonoids, possess anti-oxidant power and may help prevent free radicals from making a cellular damage. Flavonoids may be a preventive against coronary diseases, cancers and formation of arterial plaque. Antioxidants may also boost one’s brainpowers and give a rise to creativity, intelligence and various skills.

By lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in body, red wine may also produce positive health effects on the liver. Reasonable consumption may not only be safe for the liver, but it may also decrease the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, is also a phytoestrogen, which mimics the estrogen in the body. This way, red wine may help to prevent breast cancer and fight against the symptoms of menopause and pre-menstrual syndrome.

Anti-inflammatory agents in red wine are beneficial for dental health. Polyphenols are able to hold down the bacterial growth in the mouth and most of the patients with gum diseases are often advised to consume red wine.

The phenomenon known as the “French paradox” contributes to this story: in certain regions of France people consume diet especially rich in fat and sodium, and consume red wine frequently with meals. Surprisingly, those people have extremely low incidence of heart attacks, when compared to the other part of the world.

Nutritional information and recommended dosages

To enjoy the full benefits of red wine, one should consume it in moderation. One glass per day is recommended daily value for women and up to two glasses per day are recommended for men. Excessive use of red wine will not produce better effects. It may only worsen one’s general health.One glass of red wine has approximately 6oz or somewhere around 170 grams. There are around 84 calories per serving and no sugar, sodium or fat.