Red wine, moderately, has long been thought of as heart-healthy. Alcohol and some other substances in red wine, known as antioxidants, can help prevent heart disease by increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) the “good” cholesterol, and protecting against artery impairment.
Red wine heart-healthy benefits
Antioxidants in red wine, known as polyphenols can help protect the inside layer of blood vessels in the heart. Resveratrol is a substance in the red wine that is important for the health of our heart.
Recent studies have shown that adults who consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol might be less likely to develop heart disease comparing to those who don’t drink at all, or are heavy drinkers. So, people who don’t consume alcohol shouldn’t start just because they want to avoid a heart disease.
Draw the line
There is a red line between healthy drinking and risky drinking. Heavier drinking can be really harmful to the liver and heart. Heart disease is the most common cause of death in people who drink a lot.
According to U.S National Library of Medicine, if you drink alcohol you should consume only light to reasonable amounts:
- For men: recommendable dose of alcohol is 1-2 drinks a day
- For women: recommendable dose of alcohol is 1 drink a day
More effective ways to prevent heart disease
Though study has found that alcohol can help prevent heart disease, there are much more effective ways that can also prevent heart disease:
- Not smoking
- Maintaining an ideal weight
- Controlling cholesterol and blood pressure
- Exercising
- Following a healthy diet
Conclusion:
The news about red wine might sound promising, if you enjoy only one glass of red wine with an evening family meal. However, doctors aren’t encouraging you to start drinking alcohol because too much liquor can have numerous negative effects on your body.
Still, there are many doctors who agree that something in red wine seems to help the heart. It’s possible that antioxidants, as flavonoids or resveratrol, have great benefits for our heart.
Further researches will tell more about that, and Your Health Tubers will be glad to give you the latest and most reliable information as always!
Anyone who has heart failure or heart disease should talk to their healthcare provider before consuming red wine or other alcohol because alcohol can make heart failure and other heart complications worse.
Reference: nlm.nih.gov