4 Surprising Health Benefits Of Red Wine

Do you know about the secret ingredient in red wine? Resveratrol can do things like help lower bad cholesterol and combat obesity, but it has the potential to do so much more! In fact, another study recently suggested it can even reduce heart disease by limiting the “formation of inflammatory factors”—possibly slowing it down before it becomes a problem, so to speak. ^[1] Don’t think resveratrol will make you instantly healthy, and always make sure you get all the heart-healthy benefits by exercising (not while drinking, of course). ^[2] But it’s not just red wine’s “wonder drug” that has people reaching for a wine glass.

Surprising Benefits of Red Wine

Red wine isn’t just a sophisticated alcoholic beverage; it’s a powerful food that, in moderation, could provide numerous health benefits. Here are 4 surprising health benefits of red wine.

1. Fights Cavities

Just about all of us would agree that good dental health is a priority. While many communities still fluoridate water for supposed dental health, the effects are limited and also harmful. So it’s great to hear that a little red wine could have the same effect. A new study even suggested it could even help fight cavities by preventing bacterial growth. ^[3]

2. Makes You More Attractive

A study suggested a glass of red wine could lead to a happier, more relaxed mood and could also increase facial flushing. ^[4] Sort of a no brainer, right? Well, here’s where it gets interesting. These things can make you more attractive in the eyes of your partner. While not a physical health benefit, I think most of us would agree that’s a definite emotional perk.

3. Eases Depression

Let’s head back to the “wonder drug” resveratrol. One recent study suggested its anti-inflammatory properties could even help with depression. ^[5] With almost 148 million people in the U.S. battling some form of depression, this news could be huge—maybe even leading more scientists to study the connection between natural anti-inflammatories and depression.

4. Cancer Fighting Properties

We all know that drinking alcohol damages cells in the body; well, resveratrol can actually attack and kill those damaged cells. ^[6] In a recent study, resveratrol in red wine counteracted the effects of alcohol, leading to a lower cancer rate. Anything that can help in cancer prevention is definitely a beautiful thing!

One Final Thought

Remember how I mentioned earlier that resveratrol could help combat obesity? There’s recent evidence suggesting a glass of wine a day could help overweight people burn fat faster. ^[7] That’s not to say red wine is a total freebie. You can’t just drink all you like; there will always be risks with that kind of behavior, but red wine in moderation (1 to 3 drinks per day) has the potential to do a lot of good. ^[8] Remember though, red wine is not the only source for resveratrol; you can also find it in things like certain nuts and berries, white wine—even dark chocolate.

How do you get your resveratrol? Tell us in the comments!

References:

1. Bollmann, F. et al. Resveratrol post-transcriptionally regulates pro-inflammatory gene expression via regulation of KSRP RNA binding activity. Nucleic Acids Research. 42 (20).
2. European Society of Cardiology. Wine only protects against CVD in people who exercise. European Society of Cardiology.
3. Muñoz-González, I. et al. Red Wine and Oenological Extracts Display Antimicrobial Effects in an Oral Bacteria Biofilm Model. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 62 (20).
4. Van Den Abbeele, J et al. Increased Facial Attractiveness Following Moderate, but not High, Alcohol Consumption. Alcohol and Alcoholism.
5. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Component of red grapes, wine could help ease depression. ScienceDaily.
6. Shrotriya, S. et al. A Perspective on Chemoprevention by Resveratrol in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.
7. Okla, M. et al. Ellagic acid modulates lipid accumulation in primary human adipocytes and human hepatoma Huh7 cells via discrete mechanisms. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 26 (1).
8. Larsson, S.C. et al. Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 64 (3).

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