Wine

Wine May Help Kidney Health

New research suggests that an occasional glass of wine can help keep kidneys healthy, and moderate wine consumption may help protect the cardiovascular health of individuals who already have kidney disease.
Less than one glass of wine a day had a 37 percent lower risk of having chronic kidney disease than those who drank no wine.
Those with chronic kidney disease who drink less than one glass a day have a 29 percent lower risk of cardiovascular events [than those who drink no wine]


Wine May Help Reduce Vision Loss

Wine consumption can lower the risk of long-term visual impairment
While visual impairment plagued 7.8 percent of non-wine drinkers, only 4 percent of occasional wine drinkers and 2.7 percent of regular wine drinkers developed it

Red wine can stop the out-of-control blood vessel growth in the eye that causes blindness
Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness among Americans aged 50+ years, are caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels (angiogenesis) in the eye
Resveratrol is the compound in wine that protects vision. Grapes, blueberries, peanuts and some other plants are rich in resveratrol.


Heart Health

Wine - red wine, in particular- in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. Antioxidants in wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol and protecting against artery damage.

If you drink no more than two glasses it has a beneficial effect on coronary disease

It prevents clots from developing inside the arteries, raises good cholesterol, which is called HDL, and it causes dilatation of the arteries

You would have to drink five litres of fruit juice to get the same benefits as two glasses of red wine


Antioxidants

Red wine is full of polyphenols including proanthocyanidin; a powerful antioxidant. Some red wines have more antioxidants than commercial grape juice, raw blueberries and even miracle fruits like Açaí. In the fruit juice category, a full-bodied red wine will even beat pomegranate juice.

Grapes with the highest antioxidant content – Cheap screw-top bottles are the best



Red Wine vs. Antioxidant Rich Foods

Full-Bodied Red Wine 7,700 (6 oz glass)
Blueberries – 6,500 (1 cup)
Pomengranate Juice – 5,500 (6 oz glass)
Cinnamon – 5,200 (teaspoon)
Açaí Juice – 3,030 (6 oz glass)
Cooked Tomatoes – 1,350 (1 cup)

Wines with high antioxidants are the dark red wines. Since antioxidants come from the pips and skins of a grape, as well as contact with oak, you’ll find that full-bodied red wines aged in oak have the highest antioxidant properties.

If you can’t see through your wine, it has lots of polyphenols.


Fermented Foods

Fermented foods have long been associated with good digestion. The probiotics and microbes found in fermented foods contain lactic-acid that nourish the good bacteria in your GI tract. Some red wines contain more lactic acid after going through a secondary fermentation that makes the wine taste smoother. Here are some common fermented foods:

Yogurt & Some Cheeses
Real Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Sourdough Bread
Tempeh & Soy Sauce
Beer, Cider, Wine & Sake


Metabolism Glucose

Red wine, containing high amount of polyphenols and ethanol, as well as grape juice without alcohol, enhances metabolism of glucose

The resveratrol in grapes can actually help regulate blood sugar levels. This substance can stimulate insulin secretion.


Young Wine May Be Better Than Old Wine

90% of the anthocyanin content in red wine is lost after a few months of aging. There are several reasons why this happens, but it is mostly due to the fact that antioxidants are highly volatile.


High acid wines stabilize antioxidants longer

Anthocyanins appear to be the most stable at low pH levels (high acidity)


Condensed tannin is highest in young wines

Besides anthocyanin, another beneficial polyphenol found in red wine is called proanthocyanidin, or more commonly known as condensed tannin.
Condensed tannins that are found mostly in grape seeds have incredible anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
Condensed tannins are highest in full-bodied red wines.


Skin

Wine can lighten dark spots
Polyphenols, the powerful antioxidants found in wine, known as polyphenols, can be affective in both treating and preventing discoloration.

Wine helps prevent wrinkles
Resveratrol, the potent polyphenol found in red wine, targets free radicals—the perps responsible for breaking down collagen, loosening skin’s elasticity, and (gasp) causing wrinkles

In addition to quashing free radicals, resveratrol also boosts the effects of naturally occurring antioxidants. The result? A calmer, less stressed complexion.

Wine can prevent cancer
Resveratrol helps prevent tumors from developing and encourages existing tumor cells to expire. Topical application has also been shown to prevent the formation of non-melanoma skin cancers in animals.


Reducing risk of depression

Drinking wine may reduce the risk of depression.


Preventing colon cancer

Moderate red wine consumption can reduce the rate of bowel tumors by approximately 50%


Preventing breast cancer

Regular consumption of most alcoholic drinks increases the risk of breast cancer. However, red wine intake has the opposite effect.


Preventing dementia

Red wine intake can reduce the risk of developing dementia.

People who drink wine regularly but wisely, have a lover risk of Alzheimer disease

Resveratrol reduces the stickiness of blood platelets, which helps keep the blood vessels open and flexible. This helps maintain a good blood supply to the brain.


Protecting from severe sunburn

Wine and grape derivatives can help reduce the damaging effects of UV (ultraviolet) light

When UV rays make contact with human skin, they activate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which oxidize fats, DNA and other large molecules, which in turn stimulate other enzymes that harm skin cells. Flavonoids, found in wine and grapes, inhibit the formation of the ROS in skin cells that are exposed to sunlight.


Improving lung function and preventing lung cancer

Pure resveratrol is good for lung function


Raising levels of omega-3 fatty acids

Wine is better than other alcoholic drinks in raising levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells
Drinking wine acts like a trigger, boosting levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the body


Preventing liver disease

Modest wine consumption reduces the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease


Protecting from prostate Cancer

Male moderate red wine drinkers are 52% as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as men who never drink red wine


Anti-Aging

Resveratrol extends the lifespan of yeast cells by a staggering 70%. This led researchers to ask if these same life-extending effects could be applied to humans. Can resveratrol be the next fountain of youth?
One proven way to extend lifespan in a variety of mammals is to restrict calorie consumption. Resveratrol seems to mimic the same gene expression effects of calorie restriction.