What Are The Health Benefits That You Get From Wine?
To Your Health – is a phrase that we all have said as we raised our glasses in a toast during a special occasion. Where the phrase came from I do not know, but what I do know is that all varieties of wine, both red and white, are said to be a benefit to your health.
What effect will drinking wine have on us? Wines especially red wine, are rich in flavonoids and recently researchers have compiled some information and statistics that these flavonoids are in fact beneficial to your health. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties which cause the body to defend against viruses and carcinogens resulting in helping your body fight against cancer and heart disease.
Unfortunately it doesn’t mean that you go out and drink a whole bottle of wine. The operative word in this case is moderation; you have to keep the consumption of wine down. To drink too much then any benefits of the flavonoids and antioxidants that you would have had with one glass or two will be reversed. Not all red wines have high levels of flavonoids and antioxidents. Petit Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir seem to have elevated levels of the chemicals.
For a man consuming one or two four ounce glasses of wine per day will provide you with these health benefits. For a woman it is a little different. The people in the health arena suggest that only one four ounce glass per day is the limit. Any more is both of these cases and the benefits will be lost.
The French people have a lower rate of heart disease due to the region that their red wine is produced. The French red wines are very tannic and contain high procyanidin (antioxidant) content of any wines worldwide.
The dryer red wines such as Merlots or red Zinfandels contain fewer flavonoids but more than white wines. Just because these wine are a little light on the flavonoids does not mean that they will not benefit your health if you drink them in moderation.
There are plenty of health benefits of wine which can not be overlooked. Of course the primary benefits of wine include the pure joy of sitting around with good friends and a great glass or two of wine.
