These 6 health benefits of wine will make you want to sip on some RN

Drinking in our country has always been projected in a bad light, so much so that it is a taboo to discuss or even talk about publicly. Of course, it intoxicates you, but when consumed in moderation, it can do a lot of good. Yes, you heard it right! 

But before reaching out for that wine bottle and gulping it down all at once, please keep in mind that ‘moderation’ is essential. Now, it’s time to look at the bright side of drinking wine!

1. It can improve your eyesight

Red wine has a compound called resveratrol, which is considered beneficial for your eyes. As you age, the muscles around your eyes are impacted too, which is often called muscular degeneration. A study published by the United Kingdom National Health Service found that resveratrol compound in the wine prevents deterioration of the muscles to keep it healthy.

2. Increases longevity

Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that the resveratrol present in wine promotes longevity by increasing the activity of sirtuins — a protein that protects your body against ageing. Moreover, resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that helps your body fight off the free radicals that otherwise damage your skin. But, do remember that consuming too much can do more harm than good. So, always be very mindful before having a glass of wine!

3. Keeps your heart healthy

The same compound — resveratrol — is the hero yet again! The American Heart Association has admitted that moderate consumption of wine can increase the good cholesterol by about 12%! This means that blood vessels are less likely to be coated with plaque, promoting a healthy heart.

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4. Gives you healthy skin

Wine is rich in antioxidants, and when applied locally can inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Further, the antioxidants help rejuvenate the skin giving you a healthy glow.

Drinking wine stimulates blood circulation that keeps the chances of wrinkles at bay and promotes healthy ageing. However, you must keep in mind that excessive drinking can dehydrate you and mess with your hormones, giving you acne and dull skin.

5. Reduces the risk of depression

It might sound controversial but several studies have found that modest consumption of wine can reduce the risk of depression. This claim was made by a study published in the journal BMC Medicine, taking in consideration all other lifestyle factors.

Another study conducted by Predimed examined about 5500 participants for seven years. They found that the participants who consumed wine were at a reduced risk of depression, as compared to others.

While the study says it can reduce your risk, you shouldn’t forget that drinking too much can make you more prone to depression, instead of reducing the risk.

6. Reduces the risk of liver disease

Again, it might sound contradictory to the conventional belief, since some findings suggest that alcohol has a negative impact on your liver. The key is to consume it in small quantities. Having a modest wine consumption can decrease the prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

A study published in the journal Hepatology found that modest drinkers have reduced their risk of NAFLD by 50%. However, if you have any prevalent liver condition, you must always seek your doctor’s advice.

Here’s an expert guide on how much you should be drinking

Ms. Sandhya Pandey, chief clinical nutritionist at Fortis Hospital, Gurugram says, “Red wine is the healthier option, and if you want to see the benefits you must stick to it. Moreover, you must also check the ingredients, because wine that is rich in antioxidants is the best for you.”

She further suggests, “You must consume only one drink in a day which contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol or 12% alcohol content. Drinking more than that can increase your calorie and carbohydrate intake making it unhealthy. And the cardioprotective, and antioxidant benefits can also get reversed.”

However, she didn’t recommend having wine daily but yes, you can have from time to time. But people with liver disease, gout issue, pregnant women, or a cancer patient should be avoiding it.

Ms Pandey further warns, “you must be very careful with the medical interaction with alcohol. Combination of painkiller, antidepressant or antibiotics can have menacing effect so you must be really careful with it.”

Now, since you know-it-all, make your decision on it!