Red wine has long been hailed for its health benefits and not just for its alcoholic content. The amazing array of varieties and tastes of red wine means many people drink it for pleasure, but research has shown a distinct difference in the health of people who drink a glass or two a day.It helps with sleep – while people are usually cautioned about alcohol actually interfering with sleep, red wine which contains a key ingredient called melatonin can help with sleep. This anti-oxidant helps to regulate one’s internal clock and besides helping with sleep, melatonin can also help to prevent cancer.
It’s good for the heart – consuming moderate amounts of red wine can do a number of good things for the heart. Because it contains antioxidants called flavonoids, drinking red wine can raise HDL levels, which is the good cholesterol that everyone wants; it can also lower LDL levels, which is often described as bad cholesterol. Drinking red wine can also act a blood thinner which can prevent dangerous clotting.
It may reduce the risk of disease – red wine contains antioxidants that are not only good for the heart but for the rest of the body as well. Antioxidants can actually repair cells that have been damaged by free radicals and can reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, macular degeneration and certain types of cancer.
It contains resveratrol -of all the antioxidants, resveratrol is probably the one getting most of the attention. Resveratrol is found in the skin and seeds of grapes and can also help to prevent some types of cancer. But another benefit of this powerful antioxidant is that it can help reverse aging helping one to have increased longevity. Resveratrol may also help to prevent age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Men can benefit from drinking red wine because the resveratrol it contains may also help to prevent prostate cancer. In fact, some experts suggest that men who drink one glass of red wine a day can cut their chances of getting prostate cancer in half.
Red wine contains vitamins and minerals such as:
Potassium
Fluoride
Phosphorous
Choline
Red wine is also known for providing energy, aids in digestion, stimulates the appetite and can help to restore nutritional balance. Like anything, you want to drink red wine in moderation, not to get drunk. So, if you want to reap the benefits of red wine then add it to your healthy well-balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting your exercise.
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