Red Wine Benefits

Introduction:

Red wine is made from dark red-colored grapes that contains antioxidants called polyphenols. In moderation, red wine may help protect against heart disease by increasing levels of ‘good’ cholesterol and protecting against artery damage. A lower incidence of heart disease is seen among wine drinkers in France, a phenomenon known as “The French Paradox.” Red wine may also be beneficial against kidney stones, gastrointestinal cancers and lower mortality rates. The benefits of red wine are two-tiered, which are due to both the polyphenols and the alcohol content. The ideal amount of alcohol consumption to obtain benefits of reduced risk for a number of disease states appears to be 2-4 drinks per day for men and 1-2 drinks per day for women. (1)