As the saying goes, "A glass of red a day keeps the doctor away". But is this actually true? While the science around the topic is limited, the simple answer is "yes". The benefits that red wine provides is thanks to the power of antioxidants and fermentation.
Below we will take a deeper dive into these two topics, their positive impacts, and recommended consumption amounts.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are natural or man-made molecules that aid in preventing or delaying damage and decay to the cells in our body. There are many sources for naturally occurring antioxidants including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and herbs.
The antioxidants specific to wine are known as "polyphenols". The first source of these antioxidants in wine come from the various parts of the grape, mainly the seeds (pips), skin and juice. The second major source happens during maturation from prolonged contact with oak barrels.
An important part of red wine production is the contact time between the juice, skin, seeds and stems of the grape during fermentation. While this in essential to the final color and structure of the wine, it also provides increased levels of antioxidants.
Two major benefits of antioxidants:
Lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer
Reducing signs of aging and inflammation
Fermentation
Put simply, fermentation is the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeast or other microorganism. Many foods you consume on a daily basis are fermented, including beer, kimchi, cheese and sourdough bread. In the production of wine, the juice from the grape is fermented by yeast to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Consuming fermented foods has been linked to improved gut health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in your system. The larger population of this bacteria aids in improved digestion, weight loss and lower risk of catching certain illnesses.
What is the Healthiest Wine?
By this point you may be thinking, "all this information is great, but what is the healthiest wine overall?". While all wine is fermented, red wine generally has higher levels of antioxidants than white wines do.
However if you are looking for the specific wine widely considered to be the healthiest, that answer is Pinot Noir. Pinot grapes have a higher level of antioxidants, specifically one known as "resveratrol", than other grape varieties.
If you want to get even more technical, you should specifically find a cooler climate Pinot Noir, such as those produced in France. Cooler climate grapes have less sugar, so the resulting wines tend to be lower in alcohol content and calories.
How Much Wine is Safe to Drink?
While general guidance does exist for safe levels of alcohol consumption (see below), everyone's situation is different. Please consult your doctor if you have specific questions related to the topic so you can ensure you are doing what is right (and safe) for you.
“To reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed” - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (April 19, 2022)
Remember to always drink responsibly!
Comments