Is having a daily glass of wine a good thing? New studies are published daily highlighting moderate wine intake’s health benefits. For example, a glass of wine per day may improve antioxidants, raise “good” cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Other research, on the other hand, indicates health dangers such as an increased risk of certain malignancies and heart problems. With that in mind, here’s a look at what science has to say about what may happen at wine o’clock — the good, 0the terrible, and the ugly in all their fermented splendor.
The Advantages of Drinking a Glass of Wine Every Day
A glass of wine a day delivers antioxidants, reduces plaque accumulation in your arteries, increases HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), and may lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. It also alleviates anxiety and stress, can enhance your gut biome, and may reduce your risk of gallstones.
Increases Antioxidants
A great deal of the research interest in wine has to do with the antioxidants. These antioxidants, known as resveratrol, polyphenols, and notably flavonoids, are thought to operate to protect cells and tissues from damage that can result in diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Wine, particularly red wine, is high in them.
Limits Atherosclerosis
Red wine’s polyphenolic components may play an active role in preventing the development of atherosclerosis, a disease that occurs when plaque accumulates inside the arteries.
Boosts ‘Good’ Cholesterol
Consuming one to two drinks daily has been demonstrated to increase HDL cholesterol by 12%. This “good” cholesterol can assist in cleansing the system of bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reduce the quantity of material available to block the arteries.
Reduces the Chance of Heart Disease and Heart Attack
The researchers combined the findings and discovered that drinking alcohol may benefit your heart. Drinking 0 to 2 alcoholic beverages per day may lower the chance of coronary heart disease by roughly 20%. Meanwhile, 38,077 male health professionals who were not at risk of heart disease were monitored for 12 years in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, a rigorous longitudinal study. Drinking one to two beers per day, three to four days per week, lowered the risk of enduring a heart attack by up to 32% among the crew.
Reduces Chance of Stroke
According to the study, light to moderate drinking is associated with a 20% diminution in the risk of ischemic stroke and may help to prevent subsequent strokes.
Beneficial to Your Gut
According to a study published in the journal Gastroenterology, people who drink red wine have a more comprehensive range of bacteria in their stomachs than those who drink beer, white wine, cider, or spirits. A diversified gut flora indicates gut health. Researchers believe the favorable microbe mix is related to red wine’s high polyphenol content.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
A study discovered that resveratrol, one of the polyphenols present in red wine, may offer protection against feelings of depression and anxiety. According to the researchers, the substance appears to inhibit the expression of an enzyme involved in managing stress in the brain.
Reduces the Risk of diabetes
A meta-analysis of observational studies produced in Diabetes Care discovered that moderate alcohol consumers had a 30% lower incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Another large study discovered that consuming even less than one drink per day five times per week reduced the incidence of diabetes by 36%.
Wine’s Potential Health Dangers
Medications Interactions
Alcohol may interact dangerously with various drugs, including acetaminophen, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, pain relievers, and sedatives.
Impedes Folate Absorption
Alcohol inhibits the absorption of folate, a crucial B vitamin that helps construct DNA and is required for correct cell division. In addition, alcohol deactivates folate in the blood and tissues. This interaction may be how alcohol use raises cancer risk, as shown below.
Increases the likelihood of a Fast Heartbeat
Small amounts of alcohol used regularly may increase your chance of atrial fibrillation or an abnormally fast heartbeat. Researchers in Korea examined data from over 9.7 million patients to see how many developed the cardiac ailment. They discovered that people who drank alcohol every day were at a higher risk than those who consumed alcohol once or twice a week. However, there was no link found between the disorder and binge drinking.
Should I Drink, or Should I Not Drink?
It is not recommended that anyone begin or increase their alcohol consumption solely for potential health benefits because moderate alcohol consumption is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, violence, drowning, and injuries from falls and motor vehicle accidents.
Kim’s Final Thoughts…
Excessive drinking is a problem, and people with a personal or family history of alcoholism or liver illness should abstain from alcohol entirely. Because we all have unique personal and family histories, a glass of wine presents us with various rewards and risks. Whether or not to drink at the end of the day necessitates carefully balancing these benefits and hazards. This task may be best achieved by understanding the science and consulting your healthcare physician.
