Wine for Your Health
Do you drink wine? Then you're probably looking for MORE excuses to drink an extra glass. Well as it turns out, there may be considerable benefits to drinking wine. Drinking wine may improve your heart's health. Furthermore, drinking wine may also improve your mental health. And believe it or not, drinking wine may also improve your vision. Keep reading to learn more.
Heart Healthy
Studies have shown that drinking wine may help prevent heart disease. Experts believe drinking wine dilates blood vessels, which keeps blood flowing through out your heart and your body. Dilated arteries will also help prevent blockages from blood clots. And, now more studies are showing that drinking wine may lower your bad cholesterol while raising your good cholesterol. All of these mechanisms will surely keep your heart healthy and operating normally.
Preventing Diabetes
What if I told you that wine could lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes? It’s true. Caimi et al. (2003) reviewed several published articles discussing the consumption of wine and your health. It turns out that light to moderate drinking of wine may delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. With proper diet and exercise, your health may improve dramatically, even if you drink 1 or 2 glasses of wine with a heart healthy dinner. So put down the sugar, and raise a glass of wine to good health!
Want to learn more about exercise science and/or sports nutrition? Click the image below for more info on our classes.
Mental Health
You probably already guessed that wine puts you in a better mood. But a review by Caruana et al. (2016) points out the promising effects of wine versus Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. More studies are needed but so far, many studies have confirmed that red wine polyphenols are combating the aging and the decline of the brain.
Exercise also does wonders for mental health. Click this link to learn more about reducing stress and anxiety with exercise.
And if you need help creating workouts or meal plans, contact a PFTA certified personal trainer like the one below. Click the image below for more info.
Stronger Bones
Can wine improve your bone density? More studies are needed to confirm but Yin (2011) concluded that drinking wine may actually improve bone density in older adults. Older adults are usually susceptible to osteoporosis, but maybe drinking wine may help keep those bones strong and dense. Again, the key is moderation. Experts also believe that drinking too much alcohol may have an adverse effect on your bones.
Another way to improve bone density is strength training. The science definitely shows that resistance training improves bone density. But, bone density only improves on the bones that are performing the exercising. This means, you need to work out your legs, chest, back, arms, shoulders, and more!
We've created a series of videos full of exercise tips. Click the image below to start with your upper arms.
Vision
Do you see what we’re saying yet? If not, you may need another glass of wine. Not too much wine so that your vision becomes blurred, but enough wine to help prevent cataracts. Yep it’s true. Gaffney (2005) points out that a study conducted in Iceland was able to show that drinkers of red wine had the lowest incidence of cataracts among all alcohol drinkers. More studies will be conducted, and they may possibly include white wine, but so far, red wine seems to be the best on making sure you see clearly for a long, long time.
Cancer
We already know that red wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but did you know that the polyphenols in red wine may also reduce the incidences of colon cancer? In a study by Kim el al. (2006), moderate wine drinkers significantly reduced their chances of developing colon cancer. This is just the beginning. In the future, we will see more studies on wine polyphenols and their effect on all types of cancers. Not to beat a dead horse, but moderation is the key. Don't overindulge or you may lose all the benefits we previously discussed.
Knowledge is Power
And if you want more tips on exercise and nutrition, add your email below. You'll receive weekly tips directly to your inbox. Plus, you'll also receive the occasional coupon code for our classes.
Summary
Wine gives you many health benefits, but the key is to drink alcohol in moderation. Studies have also confirmed that drinking too much will eliminate any positive effects gained from moderate drinking. And experts also state that if you don't currently drink alcohol, then there is no need to start. You can still gain positive effects from a good diet and exercise plan. So next time you enjoy a glass of wine, you can rest assured you may be improving your health as well. Happy health and happy training!
Written By
RAescobar, PFTA instructor and personal trainer
Sources:
Caimi, G., et al. “Diabetes Mellitus: Oxidative Stress and Wine.” Current Medical Research And Opinion, vol. 19, no. 7, 2003, pp. 581–586.
Caruana, Mario, et al. “Putative Role of Red Wine Polyphenols against Brain Pathology in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.” Frontiers In Nutrition, vol. 3, Aug. 2016, p. 31.
Gaffney, Jacob. “Red Wine May Help Keep Vision Crystal Clear.” Wine Spectator, vol. 30, no. 8, Sept. 2005, p. 23.
Kim, M. J., et al. “Apoptotic Effect of Red Wine Polyphenols on Human Colon Cancer SNU-C4 Cells.” Food and Chemical Toxicology, vol. 44, no. 6, June 2006, pp. 898–902.
Yin, J., et al. “Beverage-Specific Alcohol Intake and Bone Loss in Older Men and Women: A Longitudinal Study.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 65, no. 4, Apr. 2011, pp. 526–32.