5 Surprising Health Benefits of Red Wine
Today we ask the age-old question, is drinking red wine actually good for you? Studies have shown, that if consumed within moderation, drinking a glass or two of red wine has some surprising health benefits. We owe it all to resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, red wine, raspberries, peanuts, and cocoa. This compound acts like an antioxidant and has been proven to protect the body from multiple forms of diseases and health complications. If you don’t already drink, Doctors don’t recommend that you start drinking alcohol for its health benefits. Too much alcohol consumption can definitely have many harmful effects on your body. But if you already enjoy a glass of red wine every once in a while, drinking it in moderation appears to have some surprising health benefits.
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Improving Heart Health
According to the US National Library of Medicine, studies taken from numerous populations have shown that people who enjoy daily moderate wine consumption show significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality when compared to individuals who do not drink wine. Resveratrol is a compound similar to antioxidants found in the skin of grapes that has been proven to protect the body against many medical issues including cardiovascular health.
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Anti- Aging
Along with preventing heart disease, resveratrol has been known to have many anti-aging properties. By consuming red wine, your body absorbs resveratrol and amino acids which can slow down the physical and mental aging process. Studies have shown that by drinking red wine in moderation, you can prevent eye-related diseases, improve your immune system and the overall health of your skin.
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Preventing Colon Cancer
Researchers at Stonybrook University in New York conducted a study that found people who drink 1 to 3 glasses of red wine a day may be less likely to get colon cancer. The researchers found that moderate red wine drinkers had fewer abnormal colon growths than people who abstain from drinking wine. But they suggest that the compound resveratrol may play a role. This antioxidant-like compound may cut the odds of getting abnormal colon growths that can become cancerous.
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Boosts Metabolism
Alcohol has a higher metabolic rate than food, when you consume alcohol it is your body’s number one priority to process the alcohol and metabolize it to get it out of your system. This means that by drinking wine, you actually burn more calories processing it than you do anything else. Drinking wine in moderation can help boost your metabolism, but be careful, on average, one glass of wine has about 120 calories!
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Treating Acne Inflammation
Red wine contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds that can help treat acne and breakouts. If applied directly to the skin, red wine can kill bacteria and reduce unwanted blemishes. Even wine facials that rejuvenate and brighten the skin have become more popular within the past few years. With that being said, drinking sugary wines in excess can cause breakouts, so when looking to inhibit acne growth, avoid wines like Rosé that have a high sugar content.
Ultimately, red wine does have many surprising health benefits all thanks to its disease fighting compounds like resveratrol. If you already enjoy a glass or two of wine at dinner, you could be consuming amino acids and antioxidants that will overall improve your health.
