Is Drinking Wine Healthy?

You probably enjoy the flavor of good wine too. You may have even told yourself that it's good for you. After all, it's made from grapes, right? And there are articles all over the Internet that say red wine is explicitly loaded of antioxidants.

If you’re like me, by the end of the week, you are ready for a glass of wine. My husband and I enjoy a Friday night ritual after the kids are (finally) all tucked in for the night. We crack open a bottle of our favorite wine, snuggle up on the couch and catch up on the week. Between our businesses, the kids, housework, and endless laundry duty, we deserve a little R&R time together.

You probably enjoy the flavor of good wine too. You may have even told yourself that it’s good for you. After all, it’s made from grapes, right? And there are articles all over the Internet that say red wine is explicitly loaded of antioxidants.

We didn’t put too much thought into what into our wine until recently. I guess we just figured since we didn’t drink every night of the week, it didn’t matter that much.

SO Wrong!

But I’ll get to that later.

For now, let’s take a step back and discuss why those other articles tell us that drinking wine is healthy in moderation.

Is Drinking Wine Healthy?

Researchers have studied wine extensively to tap into possible health benefits (or possibly to justify drinking its sweet goodness?). Studies on the health benefits of resveratrol that is naturally found in red wine began in the 1990s. Since then, studies have shown that resveratrol has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects.

Most of the health benefits of wine come from resveratrol in red wine. Resveratrol is a plant compound and antioxidant; Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress has clear links with many diseases, including cancers and heart disease.

Of course, there are other ways to get antioxidants, many found on this website. But wine is fun and delicious! For over 8,000 years, wine has been a naturally made beverage and a symbol of celebration, culture, and religion.

Health Benefits of Drinking Wine

Lower blood pressure—Resveratrol helps you produce more nitric oxide, which is a fancy term for something that helps relax your blood vessels.
Increase levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind)—This hefty claim comes from none other than The American Heart Association.
Excellent brain food—The anti-inflammatory properties found in resveratrol has been shown to help fuel the brain and protect it from cell damage.
Promotes Longevity—According to a study published in Journals of Gerontology, wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers.
Lowers risk of heart disease—In one study from Queen Mary University in London found that the tannins found in red wine contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease.
Boosts gut health—Studies found a couple of ways red wine, in particular, improves gut health:
- compounds in the wine act as a natural prebiotic
- polyphenols from red wine improve gut microbiota

Want more? Sure!

Reduces risk of a heart attack—Turns out, having a healthy gut microbiome minimizes the risk of heart attack (who knew?)
Lower risk of dementia
Increased anti-aging benefits
Decreases risk of vision loss, specifically with age-related eyesight issues such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy
Increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and protect against cholesterol buildup
Encourages blood vessel health

Yep, all this sounds great! Eat, drink, and be healthy, right?

Unfortunately, what these studies don’t discuss is all the “extra” stuff found in commercial wine. When I started digging into the details of our favorite wines found on the shelves at our grocery store, I was shocked! Nearly all wines produced and sold commercially are industrially farmed with chemicals and produced with dangerous additives to “enhance” the winemaking process. Included in the list are genetically modified (GMO) commercial yeast for fermentation, added sugar, and dyes like Ultra Red and Mega Purple.

That’s all I needed to hear.

I rolled up my sleeves and dug deeper to find the absolute cleanest wine I could find. Luckily, I found this brand (Whew)!

They go way beyond organic wine. All their wine goes through TWO rounds of independent lab testing to guarantee it’s free of synthetic pesticides and chemical additives and has fewer than 100ppm of total sulfites. They evaluate and review the farming and production practices where their grapes are grown all around the world and regularly visit the vineyards and cellars which provide their wines.

They are on a mission to provide wine without added sugars or non-organic chemicals to modify texture, flavor, color, or aroma. What you get is a wine that is natural and delicious and provides an all-around better wine experience, just as nature intended.

Now that’s a wine I can get behind (and enjoy)!

Need more incentive? (Really?) 😊

This is the best wine I’ve ever tasted. Not. Even. Kidding! You can never get bored because they offer new flavors every month!

Wine consumption may have some health benefits, but drinking too much of any type of alcohol can increase health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide guidance on the health risks of drinking too much alcohol.