The Health Benefits of Drinking Wine
We can rationalize anything. Or it certainly seems that way sometimes, doesn’t it? Dark chocolate is good for us for its antioxidant properties, and there are proven health benefits to drinking wine. All things in moderation, of course. The American Heart Association’s research says that there are health benefits from “moderate wine consumption,” which is defined as one to two four-ounce glasses a day.
Need more info? In a recent Food & Wine article, they extolled the specific benefits.
Promotes longevity. Wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers.
Reduces heart-attack risk. Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers.
Lowers risk of heart disease. Red wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease.
Reduces risk of Type 2 diabetes. Moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes.
Lowers risk of stroke. The possibility of suffering a blood clot-related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol.
Cuts risk of cataracts. Moderate drinkers are 32 percent less likely to get cataracts than nondrinkers; those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those drinking mainly beer.
Cuts risk of colon cancer. Moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45%.
Slows brain decline. Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers.
Photo courtesy of Morgue File.
