DECANTED: TOP 5 SCIENCE-BACKED REASONS FOR DRINKING WINE
At Brown Bag Wines, we love talking about wine! Why wouldn't we? It pairs perfectly with food and helps us unwind and relax after a long day. It brings people together, lifts spirits and tastes excellent. But aside from all these benefits, studies have shown that consuming wine in moderation can actually have several positive impacts on our physical health.
Here’s some scientific evidence on why you shouldn’t feel too guilty about indulging in some wine.
1. The amazing health benefits wine provides are unparalleled!
It is said that a glass of wine a day could actually keep the doctor away. Consuming alcohol in moderate quantities can help to fight off infections and boost your immune system. Caroline Le Roy, a research associate in the department of twin research and genetic epidemiology at King’s College London found that red wine improved the number of different bacteria in the microbiome. This was in comparison with those who didn't drink wine.
2. Get some of the same benefits of an hour-long gym session from one glass of wine
However, this shouldn't be a reason to stop your morning jog!
3. Red wine can help you manage your weight!
According to researchers, drinking wine in moderation can actually help you in your weight loss journey. This is attributed to the polyphenols present in red wine. The white fat cells store our energy and expand during weight gain. Studies conducted at Washington State University and Harvard Medical School found that these compounds convert white fat into beige fat which fights obesity and is much easier to lose than white fat.
Resveratrol, a miracle compound which is found in red wine has also been proven to aid in weight loss. “In preclinical studies, resveratrol has been shown to be beneficial in slowing the ageing process and inhibiting some of the deleterious effects linked to obesity.” stated Christopher Jolly, an associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Texas.
4. No such thing as a ‘beer belly’
Forget beer and other alcohol, wine doesn’t make you bloated. Due to the high levels of carbonation in beer, you’re most likely to find yourself excessively gassy or bloated after drinking it.
In addition to this, beer drinkers might find themselves gaining that dreaded ‘beer belly’ over time. Healthline stated that the most likely way beer contributes to belly fat is through the excess calories it adds to your diet. Wine has fewer calories per standard drink than beer. Therefore it might be less likely to cause weight gain and belly fat.
5. Wine might actually be the fountain of youth
The benefits keep getting better, don't they? Red wine can actually make you look younger. It is high in antioxidants which can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals. Remember that fantastic compound found in red wine that we keep mentioning?
Harvard Medical School also found resveratrol to have anti-ageing properties, it was found to benefit cardiovascular health, increase motor coordination and bone density. It also aided in kidney function and reduced cataract, all in all keeping the muscles and heart healthier as they age.
Richard A. Baxter, MD, a plastic surgeon in Seattle and the author of Age Gets Better with Wine stated that red wine has a much higher concentration of antioxidants compared to grape juice. This stems from the skin and seeds that are being included during the fermentation process of wine, which is removed during the process of making grape juice.
Moderate wine consumption with approximately one to two glasses can prove to have many great benefits for us. Plato said that nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the gods to man.
And we agree! From building our immunity to helping us retain our youth all while tasting delicious, wine does not cease to amaze.
Cheers to that!
References:
Also in Sustainable Wine Blog
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Aivonne Chong
Author