10 of the Most Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking a Glass of Wine Everyday
Wine and alcohol are often associated with negativity when talking about drinking. Hangovers, dehydration, and drunkenness usually come to mind. But these effects are normally due to over consumption. You’d be surprised to know that drinking a glass of wine per day actually has many health benefits. So stop the binge drinking and read on to learn some of the positive effects on health that wine has to offer.
1. Fight Off the Common Cold
We all know that it’s no fun catching a cold and all that comes with it. Drinking red wine daily in modest amounts help boost your immunity against colds. When a cold is about to develop in our system, normally the effects are felt in the nose and air passages. These become inflamed and congested. Drinking wine aids in reducing inflammation. The antioxidants in red wine are what gives the immune system added strength to fight free radicals. These free radicals are what cause illness and diseases.
2. Keep a Healthy Heart
Heart disease is fast becoming a problem affecting the general population. This is mainly caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. But did you know that people who drink a glass of wine a day are less likely to develop heart problems? Wine increases HDL cholesterol production or what is known as “good cholesterol†that prevents blood from clotting, which in turn eases blood circulation in our system. Better circulation is helpful in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
3. Live Longer
It has been found that people who drink wine in moderate amounts have a tendency to live longer. This is in part because of the presence of procyanidins which help maintain cardiovascular functions. A healthy heart equals a healthy body. Another way wine can prolong one’s life is due to the presence of resveratrol. It has been found to stimulate sirtuins, which are genes that have anti-ageing properties.
4. Goodbye Depression
Studies show that with one glass of wine daily, you are less likely to suffer from depression. Although there is a direct correlation to depression and having too much wine, drinking the right amount fights depression. The magic number is one to two glasses per day. Continuous or constant intoxication is what actually leads to depression.
5. Keep a Slim Figure
One of the most attractive benefits of drinking wine daily is keeping a slim figure. Surprisingly, it has been found that moderate wine drinkers also enjoy a lower body mass. Consumption of alcohol is believed to burn extra calories. So which would you rather do, slave away at the gym or down a glass of wine? The choice is a no brainer.
6. Memory Enhancer and Improved Mental Health
Because of resveratrol, wine can also increase short-term memory retention. There are studies that have found that resveratrol affects the part of the brain which forms emotions, memories, and learning. With a daily dose of wine, the effects on your brain can be restorative as well as heightening immunity from mental disorders.
Research has also discovered that moderate wine drinkers reduce their risk of developing dementia by 23%. This is not an invitation for non-drinkers to start boozing up. Remember that what is being talked about here is drinking in moderation. Excessive indulgence of the vino daily is not good for you long term.
7. Love Your Liver
Another surprising benefit of drinking wine in moderation is the effect on your liver. Surprising, because we often think that when we drink our liver suffers. According to research and related findings, drinking wine can reduce the risk of NAFL, or non-alcoholic fatty liver, disease by 50 percent. However, it is to be noted that moderation is the key word. Drinking too much alcohol, any type of alcohol, can increase the risk of NAFL.
8. Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
It seems that resveratrol is a wonder substance cure all. Resveratrol is present in the skin of red grapes and obviously in red wine. The way that it helps in minimizing the risk of type 2 diabetes is by making it easy for your body to absorb insulin. Diabetes occurs when your body finds it hard to absorb insulin. By consuming red wine daily, you will help to prevent this illness.
9. Protection from Blindness
The common cause of eye problems and blindness is overgrown blood vessels. This leads to the macular degeneration of the eye and eventually your eyesight. Wine can ease the overgrowth and ballooning of blood vessels in your eyes. It has also been found that moderate wine drinkers are less likely to develop cataracts. That is, if you compare them to non-drinkers and those who drink other types of alcohol. To maintain healthy eyesight, make it part of your day to down a glass of wine every evening.
10. Cancer Fighting Properties
From prostate cancer to breast cancer, drinking between 5 to 8 glasses of red wine per week reduces the risk by almost half. While it is not entirely known how red wine helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men, the theory goes that the flavonoids and resveratrol are the culprits.
As for breast cancer, it was found that red wine reduces estrogen levels. At the same time, it increases the testosterone levels in women. This balance is optimal in preventing breast cancer.
Who would have thought that drinking wine can provide so many health benefits. What needs to be highlighted here is the amount that you drink. It can’t be stated enough that excessive consumption can have adverse effects. Instead of making you healthy, drinking too much wine can lead to serious health problems.
Both red and white wine have been proven to have health benefits. However, it has been discovered that red wine has more preventative and curative properties. Moderation is still the rule of thumb here. If you stick to one or two glasses per day then you’ll be in good shape. You can reap all the benefits given above and lead a fit and healthy life.
