Red Wine

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10 Health Benefits of Red Wine

Not everyone chooses to drink alcohol, but those who do are probably smart to choose red wine. Every year, the research on the health benefits of red wine piles up. Wine has always been a staple in the human diet. In fact, scientists have documented red wine as far back as 5400 B.C.

Here are ten reasons to drink red wine (in moderation of course!)

Sleep

New research shows that red wine, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, and Merlot, contains melatonin. Melatonin regulates the body clock, so drinking a glass of red wine before bed may help you sleep. Melatonin is also an anti-oxidant, which means it also has anti-aging and cancer preventative properties.

Longevity

A compound in red wine called resveratrol has been shown to increase lifespan in animal studies.

Brain Health

Resveratrol has been shown to protect against Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Heart Health

Red wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease thanks to the resveratrol and other anti-oxidants it contains.

Lung Cancer

Researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain found that each glass of red wine per day reduced the risk of lung cancer by 13%.

Prostate Cancer Four or more glasses of red wine per week has been shown to reduce men's overall risk of prostate cancer by 50% and the risk of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer by 60%.

Breast Cancer

Moderate consumption of red wine is believed to lower the risk of breast cancer. However, drinking more than 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per day appears to increase the risk of breast cancer in women, so moderation is key.

Colds

Researchers in Spain found that people who drank more than two glasses of red wine per day have 44% fewer colds than people who abstained.

Inflammation

Resveratrol has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which helps overall physical health since many diseases and ailments can be attributed to inflammation.

Cholesterol

Resveratrol has been found in studies to lower LDL cholesterol, while another ingredient in red wine, saponins, also have cholesterol lowering properties.

Article Credit: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-red-wine.html

Wine

Is Wine really that Healthy for You?

Some say wine is good for your heart. Others say it helps soothe your nerves. Some even say a glass of red wine helps to keep diabetes in check. But it's hard to decide what's true and what's not. So we brought in the experts.If wine's your favourite poison, then you are going to love what they have to say about the health benefits of this drink. 

Here's how wine can do you good:  

Heart-friendly drink
Wine, red or white, increases the amount of good cholesterol or HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) in our body. "HDL transports cholesterol from the tissues to the liver and thus protects our heart," says Dr Rahul Gupta, consultant cardiologist, LH Hiranandani hospital. 

"Flavanoids in red wine prevent formation of blood clots and plaque on the arteries, thus preventing it from blocks," he adds. It therefore can be classified as a heart-friendly drink.

Hormone control
"Red wine is high in phytochemicals, a powerful antioxidant," says Mumbai-based dietician, Dr Sunita Dube. Phytochemicals improve your immune system and make sure our hormones function properly.

"Red wine can also help control blood sugar levels among those with type 2 diabetes," she says. Polyphenols present in it ensure proper functioning of hormones like insulin that regulate metabolism of glucose. It thus keeps blood sugar levels in control. 

Youth potion
What's more, antioxidants in wine prevent damage to your cells caused by free radicals. This slows down age-related problems like memory loss and wrinkles. So yes, if you want to stay younger, drink that occasional glass of wine!

How much is safe?
"Women can have a 20ml drink twice a week, not more," says Dr Sunita. "Wine has its health benefits but that does not mean non-drinkers should take to drinking," she says. 

"A well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, grains and water will benefit you similarly too. Plus, excessive consumption of wine can lead to weight gain, trigger migraine attacks, increase triglyceride levels and even cause liver failure," Dr Rahul warns.

Combine moderate alcohol consumption with exercise and a healthy diet for a healthy you.

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