5 Healthy Reasons To Drink Red Wine Every Single Night
Is red wine good for you? Science says, yes! (In moderation, of course.)
ImYanis / Shutterstock It seems like no one can get enough of red wine, scientists included. Every day there is another study touting the amazing benefits of the plum-colored beverage.
But is red wine good for you? If so, why?
Lucky for us, the proof is in the long-stemmed glass (just one, since drinking more may be detrimental to your health). Because as it turns out, drinking red wine every night can actually be good for your health — mentally and physically.
Here are five reasons unwinding with a glass of red after a long day should be on your list of to-dos — one reason for every workday!
1. Drinking red wine may be good for your heart.
Antioxidants in red wine called flavonoids have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increasing the production of good cholesterol.
According to researchers at the University of California, Davis, certain varietals have more concentrations of flavonoids than others.
Of the most common red varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon has the most flavonoids, followed closely by Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir, then Merlot and Red Zinfandel.
2. Red wine may lower your risk of depression.
While chronic heavy drinking has been linked to physical and mental health problems, drinking red wine in moderation may have the opposite effect.
A seven-year study of over 5,500 adults between the ages of 55-80, with no prior history of depression or alcohol abuse, found that moderate drinkers (defined as those who drank two to seven small glasses of wine a week) were less likely to suffer from depression than those who drank more or less than that amount.
3. Polyphenols found in red wine help keep your gut healthy.
That morning bowl of Greek yogurt isn't the only thing that's capable of helping your gut.
A study found that drinking red wine increases the amount of good bacteria levels in your large intestine, helping your digestive tract more effectively "digest food, regulate immune function, and produce vitamin K which plays a key role in helping the blood clot)."
4. A compound in red wine may help you lose fat.
New research is studying the effects of piceatannol, a compound found in red wine that is converted from the antioxidant resveratrol, on fat.
A lab study found that piceatannol blocks the process that allows the fat cell to form, and more studies are expected to look further into ways this compound can help us slim down.
5. Compounds in red wine can also improve memory and slow or delay the onset of dementia.
A team at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found that polyphenols, also found in tea, nuts, berries, and cocoa, can significantly slow cognitive deterioration and dementia related to Alzheimer's disease.
And scientists at Texas A&M confirmed that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes, some berries, and peanuts. has a "positive effect on the hippocampus, part of the brain that is vital to memory, learning, and mood."
So, is red wine good for you?
Aside from being delicious, if you aren't convinced by now that having a glass of red wine every night is beneficial, you might want to stick with beer.
Leta Shy, formerly the Fitness Editor for PopSugar, currently serves as Digital Director at SELF at Condé Nast.