Let’s investigate: Is red wine good for you?
As the nights close in and the festive season rears its head, many people reach for the tipple earlier than they otherwise would. Can you make consumption choices that have any positive health effects? Health-wise, when it comes to the battle of the bottles, red wine wins out. So, let’s investigate: is red wine good for you?
The golden rule
It might sound boring, but it’s true — across all research touting the health benefits of red wine, the amount you drink really matters. As with many things in life, moderation is key. For women, this is generally one glass a day, and for men, one to two a day (as men generally weigh more and have more of an enzyme that metabolises alcohol). If you take your health seriously, but struggle to stick to that amount, abstinence will do your body good.
It’s also essential to drink your red wine alongside a meal to reap the health rewards. A dish that includes high folate vegetables is recommended. Try adding parsnips, peas, leeks, broccoli, or kale (to name a few). On that note, almost everyone has heard the term ‘Mediterranean diet’ floating around. For many researchers, it was the long life-expectancy associated with the dietary habits of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea which led them to look into how small amounts of red wine may have contributed positively to this picture. So, with all that in mind, here are the purported health benefits that enjoying a controlled amount of red wine can bring.
Protect your heart… and more
The most beneficial compound found in red wine is a high concentration of polyphenols, which largely come from the skin and seeds during fermentation. Grapes used for white wine spend less time fermenting with skins, so the same cannot be said for our more delicate friend. A glass of red typically contains 200mg of polyphenols, while a glass of white wine has merely 30mg.
Polyphenols are a free radical scavenger: their antioxidant properties protect cells and reduce, even repair, oxidative stress. Research to date suggests that they increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (known as the ‘good’ cholesterol) and protect against cholesterol build-up. Polyphenols may also help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Because of their strong presence in red wine, it’s thought that polyphenols lower heart disease risk in those who enjoy a glass with their meal.
Other health benefits are less certain, but a smattering of studies have found that:
- moderate wine drinkers over 65 have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, likely due to the neuroprotective effects of polyphenols.
- moderate wine drinkers have decreased susceptibility to clinical colds (if they are also non-smokers).
- moderate red wine drinkers even have an apparent decreased risk for oesophageal and gastric cancers.
For those who like to do their research, two studies are linked which further explicate the mechanisms by which this may occur:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6804046/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903024/
Select your red wine accordingly
The Pinot Noir grape is king when it comes to harbouring polyphenol levels. Cornell researcher, Leroy Creasy, discovered that in cool, rainy climes, Pinot Noir grape vines produce high levels of antioxidants, which fight off fungus and bacteria, protecting the grapes and in turn, your cells. French Pinot Noir, grown in the chilly north-eastern regions of Burgundy and Champagne is always a good bet.
The Tannat is another kind of grape which consistently produces high antioxidant yields. Look for fuller-bodied wines with an ‘old-vine’ label, too, as established vines produce higher antioxidant levels than newer ones.
More broadly, wines from France, Sardinia and Uruguay score the highest in polyphenolic profiles.
If you’re reading this, you most likely care about where you source things for your body, and probably care about how you can protect the earth and producers too. In the UK, Wanderlust Wines import sustainably farmed wine, often Organic and Biodynamic certified but always organically farmed.
Another option to look at is sulphite free red wine. This wine is devoid of the many kinds of additives found in regular wine – additives which might impede any of the bioactive processes which make red wine good for you in the first place. The lack of filtration in producing sulphite-free red wine also ensures that polyphenols stay right where you want them to be. You can browse the UK’s only dedicated website for sulphite-free wines.
Storing your red wine
The concentration of polyphenols in wine decreases with prolonged storage, but a dark, temperature-controlled environment will vastly slow that process down. An option well worth considering here is a wine cooler. Seriously, it’s not just white wine that benefits from being served at a certain temperature – especially when it comes to preserving precious antioxidants and getting consistently good taste to boot. Many wine coolers have dual temperature zones so you can store both red and white wine in the same cooler. They are rated ‘A’ for energy efficiency, and a fan maintains a consistent environment so that your evening drink stays in perfect state.
Another consideration is to ensure that your red wine doesn’t oxidise, another process that damages polyphenol content. After all, when drinking in moderation, a bottle won’t disappear in the blink of an eye. To ensure an unfinished bottle lasts, there are products ranging from inexpensive vacuum-based rubber stoppers all the way to a space-age contraption called Coravin Model Two… Simply Google ‘wine preservation systems’ and you can see what’s out there.
The verdict
The consensus from the healthcare community seems to be — if you don’t drink already, don’t take up drinking red wine for its health benefits. But for those who already do, it’s certainly nice to know which alcoholic drink has the most potential to be actively good for you. Red wine ticks the most boxes in that regard. It’s also useful to consider optimising the health potential of red wine in terms of your wine selection and how you choose to store it.
If you have any long-term health conditions or take daily medication, it’s best to have a chat with a healthcare professional before deciding to try the merits of the Mediterranean lifestyle.
Phew, now after all this information, the next time red wine aficionados pour their evening drink, it will certainly feel well-earned. Cheers.