It's commonly admitted that wine is healthier than other types of alcoholic beverages. In fact, this claim is built on a bedrock of science.
Today let's try to decipher this "health code" together!
Polyphenols
What are polyphenols? You may be unfamiliar with this professional chemical term, but you have probably heard of antioxidants. As the name suggests, they are substances that can resist the adverse effects of oxidation, thereby slowing down the human aging, reducing the probability of inflammation and even cancer.
Polyphenols are a kind of antioxidant, mainly extracted from grape skins. In general, red wines contain far more polyphenols than white wines. So, what are the main types of polyphenols in wine? And what are their health benefits?
Resveratrol
Tip:Peanuts, blueberries, and cocoa also contain resveratrol.
Grapes contain a lot of resveratrol. In various studies, scientists have found that plant-derived resveratrol has the potential to inhibit cancer cell growth, fight against cardiovascular disease and inflammation, among other benefits.
Tannin
Tannin is of great significance to wine, especially red wine, giving that astringency that tends to smoothen over time. Tannin is a natural preservative, which can effectively prevent the wine from oxidizing and keep it in the best condition during storage.
On the other hand, the antioxidant properties of tannin can be conducive to the human body to some extent: delay aging, beautify the skin, inhibit platelet aggregation, prevent thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Catechin
Considered one of the healthiest substances found in tea, catechins actually also exist in wine.
Previous studies have confirmed that catechins can have positive effects on the human body, even with low doses. They have the potential to delay tumor development and treat Alzheimer's disease.
Amino acid
Wine also contains 24 kinds of amino acids, of which 8 kinds of amino acids cannot be synthesized by the human body and are called "essential amino acids"，which are relatively rare nutrients.
Vitamins & Minerals
Wine is also rich in vitamins. Among them are vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin P and other nutrients needed by the human body. The content of vitamin B1 is the most prominent, which can effectively promote sugar metabolism, eliminate human fatigue and moderately excite nerves. Vitamin B12 is extremely helpful in the regeneration of red blood cells, the production of white blood cells and platelets, which can improve anemia.
Wine also contains a variety of minerals that the human body needs, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium, zinc and iodine. Among them, potassium can protect the heart muscle and keep the heart beating. Magnesium is a protective factor for cardiovascular disease, and magnesium deficiency can easily cause coronary arteriosclerosis.
Moderate drinking
Now, we have listed all the good things that can be found in grapes and, consequently, in wine. But don't forget wine is alcohol and that excessive consumption of is harmful to the body.
Different people absorb and react to alcohol in different ways, so it's up to you to find the good amount to enjoy during a meal, for example, one, two or three glasses.
It is also worth noticing that women generally absorb alcohol faster than men due to their lower body water content, and therefore would usually consume less alcohol a day than men of the same age.
It's been proved that some of the components in wine are indeed beneficial to the human body. However, like everything else, it should be enjoyed wisely, with moderation!
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