HEALTHY BENEFITS OF WINE
Writer :Micheal Chinedu
1 January 2023
side effects are uncertain and research suggests the body can't absorb most of the resveratrol in supplements.
How might alcohol help the heart?
There's still no clear evidence that beer, white wine or liquor aren't any better than red wine for heart health.
Various studies have shown that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol benefit the heart, not just alcohol found in red wine. It's thought that alcohol:
Raises HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol)
Reduces the formation of blood clots
Helps prevent artery damage caused by high levels of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol)
May improve the function of the layer of cells that line the blood vessels
Drink in moderation — or not at all
The potential heart-healthy benefits of red wine and other alcoholic drinks continue to be studied. Those who drink moderate amounts of alcohol, including red wine, seem to have a lower risk of heart disease.
However, it's important to understand that studies comparing moderate drinkers to nondrinkers might overestimate the benefits of moderate drinking because nondrinkers might already have health problems.
More research is needed before we know whether red wine is better for the heart than other forms of alcohol, such as beer or spirits.
The American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute don't recommend that you start drinking alcohol just to prevent heart disease. Alcohol can be addictive and can cause or worsen other health problems.
Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of:
Accidents, violence and suicide
Certain types of cancer
Heart failure
High blood pressure
Liver and pancreas diseases
Stroke
Weight gain and obesity
Avoid alcohol completely if you:
Are pregnant
Have a personal or strong family history of alcohol use disorder
Have a liver or pancreas disease associated with alcohol use
Have heart failure or a weak heart
Take certain medications
If you have questions about the benefits and risks of alcohol, talk to your health care provider about specific recommendations for you.
If you already drink red wine, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means:
Up to one drink a day for women of all ages.
Up to one drink a day for men older than age 65.
Up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. The limit for men is higher because men generally weigh more than women and have more of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol.
A drink is defined as:
12 ounces (355 milliliters) of beer
5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine
1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof distilled spirits
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