It's not a myth, red wine has many benefits. But you just need to do some research to find everything and its opposite. So, how can we balance things out and adopt healthy consumption? Let's try to sort out the truth from the falsehood about the benefits of red wine .
Red wine has antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering properties
TRUE - Several studies have proven that moderate consumption of red wine helps you stay healthy . This observation is explained by the presence of polyphenols in red, particularly tannins and anthocyanins. These substances with antioxidant properties , coming from the seeds and skin of grapes, would then help protect the body from cardiovascular diseases.
Likewise, the concentration of resveratrol also has beneficial effects on blood vessels and cholesterol levels . Moderate consumption of wine thus reduces heart disease and vascular pathologies.
Red wine helps you stay healthy
TRUE - As we have seen, the antioxidant benefits of red wine help to stay in shape and prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, let's be measured, because it is not enough to drink 2 glasses of red wine per day to extend your life expectancy and ensure you stay in good health. To do this, you must have a varied and balanced diet and practice regular physical activity.
Studies show, moreover, that the benefits of wine are more particularly marked in regions where tradition pushes inhabitants to consume a lot of fish, vegetables, and unsaturated fats.
Good health doesn't depend on just one ingredient. It is the fruit of a healthy lifestyle . And as with all alcohols, excessive consumption of red wine, associated with a lack of activity and a poor diet, only worsens the consumer's health.
Red wine warms the body
FALSE - In winter, wine lovers love to pour themselves a small glass of mulled wine to warm up . But if they feel less cold afterwards, it's not really thanks to the wine, but rather thanks to the warmth of the drink. The effects would be the same with a good hot chocolate.
What you need to understand is that the ethanol contained in wine causes the blood vessels to dilate. The body then evacuates its heat more quickly, thanks to the thermal exchanges which take place on the surface of the skin. Finally, the alcohol in red wine tends to cool the body , rather than warm it. And if you have the impression of being a little warmer after a good drink, this sensation is only ephemeral, and results from very occasional warming of the surface of the skin.
Red wine increases your strength
FALSE - Here again, thinking that red wine gives strength is just a preconceived idea. It's actually quite the opposite, because alcohol consumption increases the production of lactic acid, a component that causes muscle cramps . So you can probably feel stronger and more reckless after drinking red wine, but this is illusory.
Sulphites cause headaches
TRUE – Headaches are one of the negative effects of drinking red wine. And if we feel it much more with red wines than with white wines, it is because of sulphites, much more present in red wines. Sulfur is a component that is added to wine to prevent its oxidation and stabilize it. But depending on the person, and depending on the quantity consumed, sulphites can cause headaches .
Red wine reduces stress
TRUE - According to an American study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, red wine helps reduce stress, depression and anxiety . The plant-based compound responsible for such a benefit is resveratrol, found in the skin and seeds of red grapes. This component deactivates the cellular response to stress, which increases the concentration of endorphins, the hormone with relaxing properties.
How much red wine to drink to benefit from its benefits?
To believe all the praises given to red wine, we would be tempted to indulge without moderation. However, the journal The Lancet proved, during a study published in 2018, that regular consumption of one to two glasses per day, every day, was not completely harmless, and that the harmful effects on health , even weak, were present. These data moderate the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization), which has long advised limiting yourself to 3 glasses of wine per day.
Today, health recommendations and the PNNS (National Nutrition and Health Program) set the limit at 2 glasses of red wine per day, but not every day .
The consumption of red wine must remain measured to be able to benefit from its positive effects, but its benefits are proven. So, to combine business with pleasure, don't hesitate to choose the best bottles of red wine , to drink less, but better.
