Do You Regularly Drink Red Wine?

Here Are Some Myths You Need To Bust About The Alcoholic Drink And Its Effects On Your Heart Health

When you enjoy a certain food or snack and hear that it bears numerous benefits for your body, you actually feel validated – a major case in point is eating avocados and dark chocolate. So when you hear that drinking red wine is beneficial for the heart and brain, it is understandable to get excited. After all, not much tops off the feeling of getting a glass of wine after dinner and thinking to yourself that it is good for your heart, after all.

Where did this statement come from?

The notion began with a certain phrase from the late 1980s called the French paradox. It was a school of thought that said the low cases of heart diseases among the French and Mediterranean diets was because they usually drank red wine infrequent amounts, even in spite of their love for rich fatty foods and cheese.

The theory actually assisted scientists to start researching the components of red wine, and they found certain plant compounds called polyphenols, which are beneficial to the body. These compounds are also found within the skins of certain fruits such as purple and red grapes, in addition to certain nuts and vegetables.

However, the theory of drinking red wine and reducing your chances of heart diseases is rather weak, as it is not clear how the consumption of alcoholic drinks will benefit your heart. There are myths you still need to bust before you reach for that glass of wine – it may actually not be good for you.

1. Red Wines Are Antioxidants

This is a myth, as red wine is not an antioxidant. It does contain some antioxidants though, which play a role in reducing harmful cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and maintaining healthy levels of blood pressure.

However, that does not give you the excuse to overindulge – too much of a good thing is still bad for you. If you are interested in getting a greater amount of antioxidants in your diet, you can begin taking supplements and other foods that have high levels of the nutrients, of course from the advice of your doctor or nutritionist.

 2.  Red Wine Reduces Cholesterol

Red wine cannot reduce cholesterol levels on its own, and it can raise them if you drink it excessively. The truth is you need to maintain your cholesterol levels within a healthy range if you want to reduce your chances of getting a host of heart diseases. Red wine can assist you in the job – as long as it is in moderation.

Results from a study regarding the effects of red wine polyphenols on cholesterol levels were published in Clinical Nutrition, and the results showed that the levels of HDL (good cholesterol) increased when red wine was consumed in moderate amounts. However, other alcohols such as hard liquor tend to increase the levels of LDL (bad cholesterol). In addition, an interesting finding was that levels of LDL cholesterol remain the same in individuals who drink alcoholic red wine, so you need to be mindful of the amounts you are taking.

3. Red Wine Is Capable Of Reducing Blood Pressure

There is actually no evidence that red wine can reduce blood pressure, as alcohol consumption increases blood pressure – contrary to what you may have thought.

However, because the drink can make you relax, you can slightly reduce blood pressure even though it is for a short time. In addition, alcohol cannot help you deal with cases such as chronic hypertension. For dealing with heart diseases, you need to talk to your doctor about a medication you can reduce your blood pressure, and engage in regular exercise as well as consuming a healthy diet that is full of healthy fats.

4.  Your Risk Of Getting A Heart Attack Reduces Significantly With Intake Of Red Wine

The truth is many types of alcohol can increase your chances of getting a stroke and heart attack, even red wine – this is according to research findings by the American Heart Association. However, the risk reduces slightly over time as you consume the alcohol, as long as it is moderate amounts (this is generally one glass a day for women and two glasses for men).

The opposite effect happens when you take too much alcohol, including red wine. They can increase your risk significantly, so make sure you reduce the alcohol intake you have and give your body a break in between.

5. Red Wine Is Beneficial For Everyone

Various factors will determine if that glass of wine you drink is even good for you in the long term. For instance, the most common factor is the gender of the person drinking, as men and women will experience it differently – that means they need to drink it differently. Women should not drink more than one glass a day (almost 5 oz.), while men should not drink more than two glasses daily (almost 10 oz.)

6. A Glass A Day Promotes Overall Health

Alcohol and red wine seem to be a double-edged sword. Some studies and schools of thought seem to claim that people who drink in moderation seem to live longer than people who do not drink at all. However, there is also a danger to this assumption.

For instance, women who drink on a daily basis, even if they take one glass per day, actually raise their risk of getting breast cancer – compared to women who avoid alcohol completely. This could be due to alcohol interfering with the production of folic acid, which is a B-vitamin that proves to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is, it is not clear whether red wine is actually good for the health of your heart. Until there is more research on the subject (as most data is on an observational basis), then it is best to avoid red wine completely or consume it in moderation. If you know someone who is addicted to alcohol, click here for more information on how to help them.