Red Wine - Heart Health benefits

provided by Healthcastle.com Nutrition

Does red wine protect against heart disease? Maybe. Many studies suggested that moderate amount of red wine (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by ~ 30 to 50 percent. Other studies indicated that red wine can lower blood cholesterol by preventing LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) from forming and raising HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol) level. It is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you have already suffered from one. Red wine may help prevent blood clots and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits.

What's in Red Wine that are good for heart?

Red wine is a particularly rich source of flavonoid phenolics, so many studies to uncover a cause for red wine's effects have focused on its phenolic constituents, particularly resveratrol and the flavonoids. Resveratrol, found in grape skins and seeds, increases HDL cholesterol and prevent blood clotting. Flavonoids, on the other hand, exhibit antioxidant properties helping prevent blood clots and plaques formation in arteries.

Should I start drinking more red wine now?

The answer is No. Studies showed that alcohol drinking may increase triglycerides (another Bad blood lipids) and result in weight gain due to its empty calories. Other studies also suggested that alcohol consumption is associated with cancer risk. The American Heart Association cautions people NOT to start drinking if they do not already drink alcohol. If you already drink alcohol, do so in moderation. AHA recommends one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.)