Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
In this article
Wine has a long history of being used for both pleasure and health benefits, from ancient Rome to the modern day. People enjoy wine in moderation as a beverage to promote relaxation and well-being.
But could it also be beneficial for heart health? The “French Paradox” suggests a diet rich in fats and wine could lead to relatively low cardiovascular risk and disease rates.1
This article summarizes some of the wine and heart health research. It also explores whether moderate amounts could benefit your cardiovascular system, so you can decide whether or not to include wine in your diet.
Evidence that red wine can prevent heart disease is lacking.1 The studies on the topic have only shown association and not causation.
It’s uncertain whether moderate alcohol consumption can lower heart disease rates. Although moderate drinking (one drink per day for healthy women and two for healthy men) is considered safe, there’s no long-term, randomized trial testing its health effects.
Experts question the validity of the French Paradox, suggesting that lifestyle and dietary habits may be at play rather than just wine consumption. French doctors’ early underreporting of heart disease deaths could also skew the observation.
Furthermore, heart disease rates in Japan are lower than in France despite high beer and clear spirits consumption but minimal red wine.1
Over 3 million people use BetterHelp. Their services are:
Answer a few questions to get started
Various epidemiological studies suggest that drinking red wine may offer more excellent protection against coronary heart disease compared to other types of alcohol. Red wine can also:2
In addition, red wine has active compounds (polyphenols) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The most studied polyphenol is resveratrol, which may help reduce cholesterol levels and artery damage. Resveratrol is in grapes, blueberries, cranberries, and peanuts.
A study analyzed the effect of taking 10 mg of resveratrol daily on 40 people with heart problems. Study results showed that taking it lowered bad cholesterol, improved how well the blood vessels worked, and made it easier for blood to flow through the body.2
Two other studies have investigated the effects of resveratrol, a compound found in grapevines, on blood flow. Romain et al. found that Vineatrol 30, a unique extract rich in resveratrol (15.2%), prevented the growth of fatty streaks on the aorta in hamsters fed a high-fat diet.
Similarly, Fujitaka et al. found that Longevinex, another form of resveratrol, improved blood vessel functioning in people with Metabolic Syndrome after just three weeks.
According to recent research, drinking alcohol in low-dose alcohol (less than 14 grams) within six hours has little effect on blood pressure. However, it increases heart rate by 5.1 beats per minute (bpm).3
Moderate alcohol intake (14 to 28 grams) within the same period decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure while increasing heart rate by 4.6 bpm.
Interestingly, taking medium-dose alcohol (14 to 28 grams) within 7 to 12 hours has no significant impact on either blood pressure or heart rate. Furthermore, medium-dose alcohol consumed more than 13 hours earlier doesn’t affect blood pressure or heart rate.
Nonetheless, those with high blood pressure should avoid consuming alcohol altogether to reduce the risk of complications.
There’s a debate between red and white wine regarding benefits. Red wine is usually made from dark-colored grapes and contains higher amounts of resveratrol, which can help reduce cholesterol levels and artery damage.
White wine, on the other hand, is made from lighter-colored grapes and contains less resveratrol. It may still offer some benefits since alcohol in moderate consumption has been associated with better heart health.4
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
Find a TherapistAnswer a few questions to get started
The most important thing to remember is that drinking too much alcohol can significantly increase your risk of several health issues, including:
Additionally, the potential benefits of drinking wine for heart health are limited. Because the studies on this topic are primarily observational, it’s uncertain whether drinking wine could help prevent heart disease.
The American Heart Association (AHA) advises limiting alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Specifically, one drink is 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof hard liquor, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.4
Drinking wine daily can increase the risk of health issues, such as high blood pressure and addiction. Consequently, it’s essential to talk to your healthcare provider about how much alcohol is safe to consume.
BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.
Find a TherapistAnswer a few questions to get started
While some evidence indicates that moderate wine consumption can benefit heart health, excessive alcohol intake can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
It’s vital to consult with a healthcare professional to determine an appropriate quantity and variety of wine for your needs. Moreover, remember that potential benefits are limited and should not be taken as a reason to overindulge.
Although many people believe drinking wine has beneficial effects on the heart, there’s limited evidence to support this.
Moderate drinking of alcohol may have beneficial effects on heart health. However, one of the most studied drinks is red wine, which contains a polyphenol called resveratrol that may help reduce cholesterol levels and artery damage.
Two reviews spotlighting beer consumption show moderate intake (up to 55 g alcohol/day, or 385 g/week) can positively impact non-fatal cardiovascular (CV) incidents.5
Further, both studies reveal that moderate wine or beer consumption may yield the highest effect, indicating that the polyphenolic content in these drinks may contribute to CV health benefits.
Drinking wine 30 minutes before eating can stimulate hunger and increase appetite. If done consistently, it can lead to weight gain.
If you enjoy cooking and sipping wine simultaneously, consider breaking your glass into two servings of 3 ounces each. Additionally, indulging in wine after a full meal can reduce its effects while increasing calorie absorption.7
In this article
