10 Health Benefits of Red Wine

    10 Health Benefits of Red Wine
    Not everyone chooses to drink alcohol, but those who do are probably smart to choose red wine. Every year, the research on the health benefits of red wine piles up. Wine has always been a staple in the human diet. In fact, scientists have documented red wine as far back as 5400 B.C.

    Here are ten reasons to drink red wine (in moderation of course!)

    Sleep
    New research shows that red wine, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, and Merlot, contains melatonin. Melatonin regulates the body clock, so drinking a glass of red wine before bed may help you sleep. Melatonin is also an anti-oxidant, which means it also has anti-aging and cancer preventative properties.

    Longevity
    A compound in red wine called resveratrol has been shown to increase lifespan in animal studies.

    Brain Health
    Resveratrol has been shown to protect against Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

    Heart Health
    Red wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease thanks to the resveratrol and other anti-oxidants it contains.

    Lung Cancer
    Researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain found that each glass of red wine per day reduced the risk of lung cancer by 13%.

    Prostate Cancer
    Four or more glasses of red wine per week has been shown to reduce men's overall risk of prostate cancer by 50% and the risk of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer by 60%.

    Breast Cancer
    Moderate consumption of red wine is believed to lower the risk of breast cancer. However, drinking more than 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per day appears to increase the risk of breast cancer in women, so moderation is key.

    Colds
    Researchers in Spain found that people who drank more than two glasses of red wine per day have 44% fewer colds than people who abstained.

    Inflammation
    Resveratrol has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which helps overall physical health since many diseases and ailments can be attributed to inflammation.

    Cholesterol
    Resveratrol has been found in studies to lower LDL cholesterol, while another ingredient in red wine, saponins, also have cholesterol lowering properties.



    5 Foods That Contain Resveratrol

    Resveratrol has received a lot of media attention in recent years, and for good reason. Studies have found it to have some promising health benefits, everything from anti-aging to cancer prevention.

    There are resveratrol supplements on the market, but what if you want to get it from your food? Here are five foods that contain good amounts of this potent antioxidant.

    Red Wine and Red Grapes
    Red wine contains high amounts of resveratrol, depending on the grape. The resveratrol is found in the grape skins. This is why white wine has less resveratrol than red wine - because red wine is fermented with the skins and white wine is not. An ounce of red wine may contain as much as 1,000 micrograms of resveratrol.

    Peanuts and Peanut Butter
    Peanuts and peanut butter are a great source of resveratrol.

    Cocoa Powder and Dark Chocolate
    Cocoa powder and dark chocolate have the second highest amount of resveratrol after red wine.

    Mulberries
    The mulberry fruit is a good source of resveratrol. There are resveratrol supplements available that contain this fruit. Mulberries are also sold dried in many health food stores.

    Blueberries
    Blueberries are also a great source of resveratrol. Eat them after dinner alongside some dark chocolate and you'll have a healthy, resveratrol rich dessert!

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