A Powerful Antioxidant
The grape is full of powerful antioxidants, namely resveratrol, a polyphenol. These antioxidants work hard at ridding the body of dangerous free radicals that can damage cells and lead to disease. According to Mayo Clinic, resveratrol may also reduce bad cholesterol and prevent blood clots in the body.
Red wine is full of resveratrol because the skin from the grape is left on longer than it is with white wine when fermenting. Resveratrol is found in the skin of grapes.
Dilating Arteries
Some studies show that because wine dilates the arteries, blood flow increases while the risk for heart disease and stroke lowers. When blood flow increases, the chance of clogged arteries also lessens. When you mix that benefit with wine’s antioxidants, it’s clear that drinking wine may be good for your health.
Not only does wine seem to decrease LDL, or bad cholesterol, in the body, but it may also increase levels of HDL, or good cholesterol, per WebMD. That’s great news since the presence of HDL helps to lower LDL.
Red Wine vs. White Wine
Both red and white wine carry antioxidants. Red wine, however, has higher levels because of the fermenting process with the skins left on. Other wines, such as orange wine or sparkling wine, fall under the white wine category; the skins are extracted before the fermentation process. If you want to drink wine with health benefits, choose red over white wines. And of course, always drink alcohol in moderation!
Healthy Wine Drinking Habits
You now know wine is a healthy choice among alcohol, but that doesn’t mean you should drink it like water. Here are some tips for safely incorporating wine into your life:
- Don’t drink late at night; otherwise, you may get a restless night’s sleep.
- Drink on a full stomach rather than before eating.
- Choose red wine for greater antioxidants.
- Spend a little more money on your wine (because you’re worth it) and because a high price tag may encourage you to savor each expensive drop.
- Wine is an aphrodisiac, so it increases blood flow—plan accordingly.
At Bliss Wine Tours, we enjoy all things wine, and so do our guests! If you are planning a trip to Arizona or are a resident, contact us to schedule a luxurious private group winery tour. We look forward to sharing the Arizona vineyards with you!
