Red wine…friend or foe? Will a glass (or two) a day really “keep the doctor away”? Recent studies are increasingly pointing to the health benefits associated with the consumption of red wine each day. And why argue with research?

Relax! Research conducted during the past ten years has brought to focus the debate over whether some red wine every day can do much more than relax you…it appears to have the power to improve your cardiovascular health. The studies also indicated that moderate alcohol consumption is one of the “eight proven ways to reduce coronary heart disease risk”. In red wines, this is attributed to the antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of the red grapes used to make it.

Good Cop, Bad Cop. How does drinking red wine reduce the risk of coronary heart disease? Simple…by reducing your “bad” cholesterol, boosting your “good” cholesterol and reducing blood clotting. (Sounds good to me!) Studies have shown that drinking the recommended amount of red wine each day can lower the risk of heart attack for middle aged people by as much as 30 to 50 percent AND may prevent additional heart attacks if you’ve already suffered from one!

The Sweeter the Wine... The antioxidants referred to here are called “flavonoids”. The general rule of thumb to follow is…the sweeter the wine, the less favonoids present in it. The highest number of these antioxidants is found in Cabernet Sauvignon, while Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir varieties contain substantial amounts as well. These are followed by the Merlots and Zinfandels. White wines – typically sweeter – were found to have significantly lower amounts of flavonoids.

Not Just Heart Smart. Most recently, studies have also shown that one of the antioxidants found in the skin of red grapes may help to inhibit tumor development in some cancer cases. That same antioxidant has also been proven to aid in the formation of nerve cells, making it helpful in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Hold the Alcohol? In conjunction with this study, people frequently ask about the benefits of drinking a non-alcoholic variety of wine…or even grape juice.

Researchers report that while grape juice does contain some of this beneficial antioxidant, it’s not enough to lower your bad cholesterol. On the other hand, non-alcoholic red wine does share the same antioxidant characteristics as its sister varieties that do contain alcohol.

How Much is “Enough”? Whether you buy German wine, Italian wine or any other wine for that matter, the alcohol content is pretty much the same. So moderation is the key. When you consider that a four-ounce glass of wine = one serving, it has been determined that men will reap the benefits of red wine with 1 – 2 servings per day, while it’s suggested that women only consume 1 serving per day. (This doesn’t mean that doctors are recommending that you start drinking wine if you currently don’t!)

So…although the testing will continue…and there will be believers and non-believers regarding the health benefits of wine…why not go ahead and order a nice pack of red wines online - right now - conduct the research yourself – and arrive at your own decision? Cheers!