Does a Daily Glass of Wine Heart-Healthy?
“People shouldn’t think that drinking wine is good for you,” notes a cardiovascular expert. Drinking alcohol is linked to elevated blood pressure, liver problems, and complications affecting the gut, mind, and immune function, as well as cancer.
Possible Cardiovascular Upsides
However, research indicates that drinking wine in moderation could have some small benefits for your heart health, as per medical opinion. This research suggests wine can help decrease levels of harmful cholesterol – which may reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, renal issues and brain attack.
Wine is not a treatment. I discourage the idea that poor daily eating can be offset by consuming wine.
This is due to compounds that have properties which dilate vessels and reduce swelling, helping blood vessels stay open and flexible. Additionally, red wine includes protective antioxidants such as the antioxidant resveratrol, found in the skin of grapes, which may additionally bolster cardiovascular health.
Important Limitations and Alerts
Still, there are major caveats. A leading international health organization has published a statement reporting that there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink; the heart-related advantages of wine are outweighed by it being a classified carcinogen, in the same category as asbestos and tobacco.
Other foods – such as berries and grapes offer similar benefits to wine without those negative effects.
Recommendations for Moderation
“I would not advise a teetotaler to begin drinking,” explains the cardiologist. But it’s also impractical to demand everyone who presently consumes alcohol to stop entirely, stating: “Restraint is essential. Keep it sensible. Beverages such as beer and liquor are laden with sugars and energy and can harm the liver.”
He recommends consuming no more than 20 small glasses of wine a month. Another major heart charity recommends not drinking more than 14 units per week of alcoholic drinks (equivalent to six average wine glasses).
The essential point remains: One must not perceive wine as medicinal. Nutritious eating and good living habits are the proven foundations for sustained cardiovascular wellness.
