Alcohol: Risks vs. Benefits
The risks of drinking alcohol include impaired judgment; a higher chance of cancer, stroke, and liver disease; obesity; and more. But there are positives, too: In moderation, it can raise your HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), prevent blood clots and artery damage from LDL cholesterol, and help your blood vessels work their best.
Why Wine?
Alcohol (ethanol) alone brings benefits, but one specific perk of wine comes from antioxidants called polyphenols. They protect the lining of your blood vessels and prevent plaque buildup in your arteries.
Reach for Red
When wineries make white wine from grapes, they take off the skins before fermenting them. Red wine comes from grapes with skins still on, and that’s where most of the antioxidants live. But even though this gives red wine a slight leg up, there’s not yet enough scientific data to dub it “healthier” than white.
Wine’s Super Ingredient
One of the often-touted benefits of wine is a specific polyphenol antioxidant called resveratrol. Studies on this plant compound are ongoing, but some show it may lower blood pressure, control cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, make you more sensitive to insulin (which helps you regulate blood sugar), and even boost your brain power.
Polyphenols Elsewhere
Although the polyphenols in wine are where a lot of its health benefits come from, downing a glass of cabernet isn’t the only way to get the goods. Tea, coffee, berries, onions, and apples all have even higher amounts than a drink with dinner.
Sulfite Side Effects
The yeast fermenting process of wine creates sulfites (sulfur dioxide); all wines have them. Many wineries add extra sulfites to increase shelf life. Sulfites can make asthma symptoms worse and, in some people, cause flushed skin, stomach pain, and diarrhea …
