Wine is one of the most popular beverages around the world. Not everyone knows that it can also be among the healthiest, though.
Wine can be good for your heart, your skin, and even your brain. But of course, that’s only if you take it in moderation.
For reference, most studies state that a 5-ounce pour (regardless of the size and shape of a wine glass) is the general standard for healthy drinking: for women, it's typically one glass a day and for men, it's two.
In any case, provided you don’t take more of it than recommended, wine can have very positive effects on your health. We talked to a few doctors and experts to find out more about these effects, which we’ll go over below.
1. Reduces the risk of heart disease
According to the specialists at Cardiologist Singapore, a specialty cardiology practice, many individuals who consume red wine in moderation have a lower risk of heart disease.
This is mainly due to red wine's high concentration of polyphenol antioxidants. That helps to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and metabolic diseases.
2. Acts as a shield against cancer
Red wine is also said to contain resveratrol (typically found in the skins of grapes) that can prevent cancer cells from growing and reproducing.
Based on the findings of the team at Colorectal Surgeon Singapore, a colorectal health clinic, it can even reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by 50% in some cases!
Other studies show that it can also eliminate cancer cells that may lead to breast cancer and prostate cancer. Therefore, we can say that wine is indeed a powerful shield against several major health conditions.
3. Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes
For those who have type 2 diabetes, a little wine may also help to improve the use of insulin due to resveratrol. This is important as insulin resistance is one of the keys to managing diabetes.
Moreover, wine is composed of polyphenols that can regulate blood sugar. So, moderate wine drinking can also be added to your health routine if you worry that you’re at risk of developing diabetes.
4. Lowers the possibility of stroke
Wine also serves as a natural blood thinner. It can prevent blood clotting -- and remember, blood clotting can lead to a stroke.
According to the scientists at Johns Hopkins, this benefit comes from the phenols and resveratrol mainly found in red wine. Thus, moderate consumption of red wine can be a good idea if you have a high risk of stroke.
5. Improves cognitive function
Who would've thought that wine can also be good for the brain? Researchers cited that a single glass may improve brain function due to the chemicals in red wine that can keep the brain's neurons from dying off.
Resveratrol can also improve short-term memory and help people show faster recognition of words. Most importantly, it's one effective way to protect the brain from dementia and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
That's why drinking a glass of wine while doing some brain exercises can be a great help. Why not try it while playing a game of chess or Scrabble?
6. Strengthens the bones
Drinking red wine can also increase our calcium intake, helping our bones to get stronger as we get older.
This is because of the high levels of silicon in wine -- these help increase bone density and reduce the chance of osteoporosis.
7. Prevents acne breakouts
If you've already tried dozens of skincare products and you still experience breakouts from time to time, then you might want to consider adding wine to your diet.
Along with fruits and veggies, wine can also help you combat the breakouts because of resveratrol, which delivers antimicrobial effects against acne.
So, rather than spending too much on buying various skin products, you can simply start a healthy diet to fight off this facial skin problem.
Anyway, there you go! Now, you don't have to feel guilty when you're drinking wine on special occasions. As you can see, it may even be to your advantage to down that glass!
Just remember to take your favorite drink in moderation to make the most of its benefits. And of course, to pair it with a healthy lifestyle and food!