Oct 22 2021

It is safe to say that maintaining a balanced diet whilst living a busy, work-filled life is no easy feat. Therefore, it would be great if that drink that we sip on to unwind after work was actually beneficial to our health. 

Well, studies have recently shown that consuming red wine in moderation can in fact have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing. Naturally, such a statement seems too good to be true and will leave you wondering why is a glass of rouge good for you?

How is Red Wine Made?

Before you can answer the question of “is red wine healthy?”, you must first learn how it is made. 

Red wine is produced by squeezing and fermenting dark-coloured, whole grapes. This can result in a range of types that differ in flavour and colour. Most commonly, you will find yourself drinking Zinfandel, Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Shiraz. Typically, the alcohol concentration will range from 12-15%.

Quite simply, modest consumption of red wine is now believed to be beneficial to your health since it has a high volume of powerful antioxidants. 

Nutrition Information

Nutrition is the biggest factor to consider when answering “is a glass of red wine good for you?” Although nutritional value will vary from glass to glass, an average can be determined when calculating the nutritional information for a glass of wine.

Generally, one serving (five ounces) of wine contains:

  • 125 calories
  • 0 grams of protein
  • 0 grams of fat
  • 4 grams of carbohydrates
  • 0 grams of fibre
  • 1 gram of sugar

Additionally, red wine contains minerals and vitamins such as iron and calcium.

Health Benefits

The physical ways in which you can benefit is the most practical answer to “is red wine good for health?” But what sort of health benefits are we talking about?

Blood pressure regulation – A study proved that red wine’s polyphenols were responsible for the lowering of blood pressure for people with slightly high blood pressure. It was determined that systolic and diastolic pressure both got better, meaning that red wine could improve the health of your heart.

Heart health – More generally, the ethanol in red wine is thought to merge with its polyphenols and have a positive impact on the circulatory system. This could be beneficial to those with narrowed blood vessels.

Smaller risk of cancer – Lab studies suggest that a particular polyphenol, called resveratrol, may reduce cancer risks. Human studies have indicated that red wine drinkers have a smaller risk of prostate cancer and colon cancer, however, this could also be because of the other compounds in red wine.

Dementia risk reduction – Although this was not thought to be exclusive to red wine, studies have suggested that minimal to moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the possibility of dementia. 

Decreased diabetes risk – One study suggested that wine lowered the chance of developing diabetes for women and men. Despite this, men who consumed alcohol excessively, or even men who drank one to three days a week, were more susceptible to diabetes.

Health Risks

Despite the revelation that red wine has the potential to benefit your health, you must remember the risks of alcohol abuse. When used excessively, red wine, and all forms of alcohol, can present serious health risks.

Wine intolerances – Yeast, moulds, and sulphites can evoke a reaction in red wine drinkers. Around 10% of the population may get a hypersensitive reaction to wine, particularly those who are asthmatic. 

Excessive drinking – Not only can excessive alcohol consumption damage your physical health, but it can also be detrimental to your mental health. Alcohol is an addictive substance, and it is important to keep your intake moderate. 

Pregnancy concerns – Alcohol should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women due to the impact that it can have on the baby’s health. 

Alcohol and gout – Alcohol consumption can exacerbate gout symptoms, and so gout sufferers should avoid alcohol at all costs.

Liver damage – Excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental to your liver and can lead to cirrhosis and other conditions. 

How Much Should You Drink?

Across Europe and America, moderate wine consumption is considered as 1-1.5 glasses a day for women and one to two glasses a day for men. Despite this, it is recommended to have 1-2 alcohol-free days every week. 

Get in Touch

If you have any further questions about the production of wine and its nutrition information, do not hesitate to get in touch. Furthermore, contact our team about any effective wine storage and handy wine accessories. 


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