What's your favourite tipple this festive season? There are so many choices for us to choose from, but what are the effects of these drinks are there any health benefits to drinking alcohol. Other than the usual ‘slightly merry’ effect we are all too aware of, we have delved into the health benefits of our favourite beverage here at Vinomagna to see if the beneficial factors outweigh the headache hangover when you’ve had one glass too many, I’m sure you guessed it… top of our list, it’s a glass of Vino.

There have been hundreds of studies that have been published over the years that claim ‘wine is good for you’ but how beneficial really is it, if at all? Red wine is full of antioxidants as most of us will have heard, but what does this really mean and should we reach for a glass of Red or White and why? Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation, we have to throw that disclaimer out there, however, it turns out that wine in particular Red wine, may be better for us than we thought.

Top 4 Benefits of Red Wine:

1. Supports Heart Health:
   Red wine contains high levels of antioxidants and many active compounds such as Polyphenols, Quercetin and Resveratrol which have been proven, to support and improve the functioning of the heart and help fight cardiovascular disease. Not only do these antioxidants help to reduce the fat build up, plaque and cholesterol from artery walls which ultimately causes atherosclerosis, but they also help to regulate blood pressure and reduce inflammation in the heart. 
   
   
2. Protects against Alzheimer’s Disease:
   We have all heard that a Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest diets to eat, a combination of fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, oily fish and red wine daily, could reduce our chances of developing a cognitive illness such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to the high levels of Resveratrol within the diet, which help to protect the nervous system and fight against heart disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Consuming a Mediterranean diet will protect us by reducing our risk of developing these diseases by 28% as well as reducing the chance of a mild cognitive disease developing further by a massive 48%.
   
   
3. Reduces Cholesterol:
   Alcohol raises your HDL ( good cholesterol) by up to 15 percent, red wine, in particular, is slightly more beneficial than white wine and other alcoholic drinks, due to the high levels of Polyphenol antioxidants which help to lower high levels of LDL ( the bad cholesterol). The darker and more intense colouring to the wine, the higher the antioxidant levels, a moderate serving of red wine will not only improve heart health but it has been proven to lower cholesterol. Although it is easy to lose track of how much wine one has consumed in an evening, Men should consume two servings, whilst women only one serving for 5 days of the week to see the advantages of cholesterol reduction. To lower your cholesterol further, try to eat a healthy Mediterranean diet alongside your daily glass of red. If you prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, by consuming a glass of grape juice each day you can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, blood clots and protect blood vessels within your heart against damage.
   
   
4. Fights Obesity:
   Due to a compound called piceatannol present in Red wine, it has been proven that red wine can help fight obesity. This amazing compound blocks an early developing fat cells ability to evolve and therefore it cannot develop into a larger fat cell. This key compound has also been proven to reduce inflammation and protect nerves against a build-up of plaque helping to increase your overall lifespan. Of course there are other ways of consuming piceatannol, it is not only present in red wine, however, it certainly is another reason to justify having ‘just one glass’.

So, at the end of our research, we conclude Red Wine has many health benefits that we where unaware of and bearing in mind the darker the shade of wine the higher the antioxidant level we will most certainly be pouring ourselves a glass of pinot noir this evening. As the festive season is well upon us and wine production has plummeted to it’s lowest levels since 1961, make sure your basement custom wine cellar is stocked up full of Pinot noir to make sure you have a ‘very Merry Christmas’.

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