Gulping a glass of wine not just relish the happy high but also has a good deal of health benefits. Depending on the type, different types of wines have their own set of health benefits.

While red wine is known to slightly healthier than the white variety of it because of the presence of some vitamins and minerals but white wine is known to contain fewer calories.

Made out of fermented grapes and other fruits, the alcoholic beverage if taken in moderation serves a gamut of health benefits. The process of wine-making includes fermentation wherein the yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes converting it into alcohol. Grapes of different kinds produce various kinds of wines and different wines may be combined to create more complex flavors. Red wine is majorly rich in resveratrol that may offer a number of health benefits.

Some of the health benefits of red wine:

Moderately Decreases Cardiovascular Risk

Resveratrol present in red wine may help improve heart health in various ways. According to researchers, red wine reduces the risk of heart disease because of the way it helps the gut microbiome.

Red wine may also improve the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells which are believed to protect against heart disease.

Helps Control Type-2 Diabetes

A study shows that drinking a glass of red wine with dinner is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in people with type-2 diabetes. Ethanol present in wine plays a key role in metabolizing glucose and hence may be safe for people with Type-2 diabetes.

Brain Damage After Stroke   

Resveratrol may protect the brain from stroke damage, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Results from tests on mice showed that resveratrol increased levels of heme oxygenase, an enzyme known to protect nerve cells in the brain from damage. When a stroke occurs, the brain is ready to protect itself because of higher enzyme levels.

However, it remains unclear whether the health benefits are due to the resveratrol itself, or if the alcohol in the wine is needed to concentrate the levels of the compound.

Prevents Vision Loss

Resveratrol in red wine may help prevent vision loss caused by out-of-control blood vessel growth in the eye, according to findings published in 2010.

Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are leading causes of blindness among Americans aged 50 years and above. This is due to an overgrowth of blood vessels in the eye, known as angiogenesis.

Prevents Colon Cancer

According to a study presented in 2015 by UK scientists, consuming resveratrol may reduce the size of bowel tumors by approximately 50 percent.  

Prevents Breast Cancer

Red wine has been known to help prevent breast cancer. While Regular consumption of most alcoholic drinks is ironically known to increase the risk of breast cancer, chemicals in the seeds and skins of red grapes if consumed in moderation may actually help prevent breast cancer. women who drink red wine in moderation may be spared this risk.

Protection from Prostate Cancer

A study published in 2007 reported that, in men who drink moderate amounts of red wine, the chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer is around half that of men who never drink red wine. The researchers defined moderate drinking as an average of four to seven glasses of red wine per week.

Treats Acne

Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, red wine is known to help treat acne. Sometimes it is suggested that applying red wine directly on skin after mixing it with benzoyl peroxide may maximize antibacterial activity.

Prevents Lung Cancer

Red wine if taken in moderation is known to boost lung function and also help prevent lung cancer. It protects the cells from proliferating and prevent lung damage.

Prevents Dementia

Dementia is a growing health issue that most elderly people face. A team of researchers found that a moderate amount of red wine intake can reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Although red wine has ample of health benefits, it concurrently has own share of risks if taken heavily.

By Sowmya Sangam