We all do something to unwind at the end of a long day. Some people jog and others watch TV — but me? I love a nice glass of wine.
I’ve always been told that this is a vice, that alcohol is not good for you and has no nutritional benefits. But I beg to differ, especially since you can use wine to deep condition your hair, smooth skin, and heal bruises!
If wine can help the outside of your body in so many different ways, shouldn’t it be able to do the same for the inside as well?
Doctors have done multiple studies that have proven that one glass of wine a day has tons of really great medical and health benefits, as we outline for you in this exclusive below.
However, as in all things, moderation is everything; studies have also proven that too much wine can be detrimental to your health — so limiting yourself to just one glass a day is key.
What do you think of these wine-related health benefits? Let us know in the comments below!
1. It can help you lose weight.
A recent study, published in the Journal of Physiology, found that one glass of red wine could be equivalent to one hour of exercise.
Jason Dyck, the lead researcher of the study, discovered that the natural compound resveratrol — found in red wine — could actually "enhance exercise training and performance."
2. It freshens breath.
Toss out your breath mints and gum. Instead? Drink a glass of vino!
According to Leah Kaufman, a registered dietitian, red wine is not the most calorie-friendly alcoholic beverage (weighing in at only 100 calories for a typical five-ounce pour) — but it can act as a mouthwash, because the flavan-3-ols in it can reduce "bad bacteria" found in your mouth.
3. It helps with allergies.
Here is a little something for all white wine lovers: certain types of white wine can actually help reduce allergies.
When we have allergies, we often take anti-histamines to feel better. Histamines are what a cell releases that give us allergies.
Laura Foster, “The Wine Coach” and sommelier, recently talked to Dr. Oz about how wines like non-sweet Sauvignon Blanc are low in histamines and can actually relieve allergy symptoms.
4. It helps your heart.
Laura Kaufman also says that wine contains antioxidants and can help prevent heart disease.
One glass of wine a day can reduce you risk of having a heart attack by lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. It can also help prevent blood clots.
But be careful: Too many glasses of wine a day can be detrimental to your health.
5. It lowers bad cholesterol.
A healthy heart and good cholesterol go hand-in-hand. You can’t have one without the other.
Research as shown that alcohol can raise levels of good HDL cholesterol by as much as 5 to 15 percent.
Wine is particularly helpful because its polyphenol antioxidants could also lower LDL levels.
6. It preserves memory.
Because wine helps prevent blood clots and reduce vessel inflammation, it can also help you retain your memory.
According to Tedd of the University of Arizona School of Medicine, when he and his researchers gave memory quizzes to women in their 70s, those who drank one drink every day scored much better than those who drank less or not at all.
7. It boosts your immune system.
According to one British study, those who drank a glass of wine a day reduced their risk of infection by 11 percent.
This is because the flavan-3-ols in wine helped them ward off helicobacter pylori bacteria, which causes gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancers.
Just half a glass may also prevent food poisoning caused by germs like salmonella, according to a Spanish study.
8. It builds strong bones.
It has been found that on average, women who drink wine moderately seem to have higher bone mass than people who do not.
The reason? Alcohol boosts estrogen levels, which slows the body’s destruction of old bone.
Wine is also rich in phytochemicals, which also may benefit bones.
Remember, despite the many wonderful health benefits of wine, it's always important to drink moderately and responsibly.
Please SHARE if you enjoy a nice glass of wine now and again!
