Does Red Wine Really Have Any Health Benefits?

We know that, after a month of indulgence, January is often a time to reconsider your choices around alcohol and to help decide what’s what in terms of your health. With plenty of rumours on the internet and through word of mouth, we asked the question: does red wine really have any health benefits? After some research, here’s what we found.

When enjoyed in moderation, red wine has a slew of potential health benefits. The best red wine for health purposes are the darker red wines from the south-west of France. This includes the regions of Bordeaux, Languedoc, Roussillon and the Rhône Valley. These wines have higher levels of procyanidins, an antioxidant found in the dark skins which are linked to heart health and longevity. Let’s have a look at a few other benefits of red wine…

Blood sugar regulation

The red skins of red wine contain a compound called resveratrol. This can help to control blood sugar levels, mostly in diabetic and pre-diabetic persons. Resveratrol also aids the flow of blood and helps to lower cholesterol levels. Type 2 diabetes is on the rise, and a healthy lifestyle should be maintained to avoid this disease and its complications.

Heart health

Red wine is also high in antioxidants, which play a significant role in keeping your veins clear. Overall, red wines are known to lower the bad cholesterol in your system. While this is good news for red wine drinkers, it’s important to note that any benefits are only seen when consumed in moderation. Too much red wine will actually work against the heart.

Memory

Resveratrol also helps with memory loss! Beta-amyloid protein has been shown to play a part in plaque forming in the brains of those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Resveratrol helps prevent this plaque forming. While research into these effects is still underway, results look promising.

Antioxidants

These little guys are amazing – they help protect against harmful free radicals! They help fight off the common cold and maintain healthy skin and hair. More seriously, antioxidants play a role in the prevention of certain types of cancer.

Weight loss

Our friend resveratrol creates a chemical called piceatannol, which helps reduce fat cells in the body. Used in moderation, it adheres itself to insulin receptors in newly formed fat cells and prevents them from further growth. There is no better win-win!

Digestive system

Red wine has antibacterial properties and can have a positive effect on the digestive system, protecting the stomach lining from the general irritation caused by various bacteria like Heliobacter.

Enjoying a glass with friends

We all know that red wine is fabulous – but at La Kav Wines, we believe that French red wine is the best! Research has shown us that enjoying time together with friends is hugely beneficial to your mental health, and luckily there’s nothing better than a glass of red wine with great company. Our motto at La Kav is simple: we are passionate about quality wine and friendship. We believe that the best wines are enjoyed over a good meal with people you love and plenty of laughter. Our wines are chosen carefully and are the ones we would share with our friends, so you can be assured that they are the best.

Overall, drinking red wine in moderation can have real benefits. However, it must be noted that too much red wine can contribute to liver cirrhosis and weight gain, as well as negating the potential health effects mentioned in this article. ‘Moderation’ means no more than 1-2 glasses a day for men and 1-1.5 glasses for women per day. For further information, check out drinkaware.ie.

See our selection of all our red wines here. You can select by region and select a good bottle for the next time you have friends around.