A lot of scientific research has been devoted to the benefits of red wine, one can often find recommendations to drink a glass of red wine a day, even doctors sometimes recommend it to their patients. Is red wine useful and what is its effect on the body? We will try to make out in this article.
Why is red wine recommended?
Although experts do not doubt the positive effect of moderate consumption of red wine, there is still disagreement in explaining the mechanism of this effect. So, the scientists of Uruguay, after deciphering the genome of dark grapes of the Tanna variety, found a high content of procyanidin (flavonoid, a natural antioxidant) in it. Another study at Queen Mary’s University of London showed that the procyanidin content in Tann grapes is 3-4 times higher than other Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Other scientists insist that red wine contains the substance resveratrol, synthesized by plants of precisely dark grape varieties, which can inhibit the development of inflammatory processes in the body, hearing loss, aging in general, as well as senile changes in the brain and so on.
In addition, red wine belongs to the category of products with a high content of antioxidants. Another similar product is green tea. Antioxidants also inhibit the aging process, help in the fight against serious ailments such as Alzheimer's.
How to get red wine?
When it comes to whether it is useful to drink red wine, the question arises of getting this drink. Red wine is obtained from dark grapes, that is, from "purple" grapes, as it is called in the wine regions. It is collected at a time strictly defined for each variety, when the ratio of sugars and acids in the berry reaches the level that is necessary to obtain the planned result.
It is noteworthy that in countries with a long history of winemaking, such. like Italy and Spain, grape harvesting has its own name: in Italy it is “vendemia”, and in Spain it is “vendemia”. The grape harvest time in the northern hemisphere is from July to October, and in the southern hemisphere from February to April.
And, although special machines for collecting grapes have already been created, however, the best varieties of wine are obtained with manual collection, more gentle for plants and berries. After the grape is harvested, it is subjected to maceration and pressing, and the resulting wort goes through the stages of fermentation, filtration and bottling.
Benefit for health
It is clear that the notoriety of alcohol makes one doubt whether red wine is good. However, studies in Europe have shown that drinking 22-32 grams of alcohol per day protects a person from death due to many causes. A comparison of the use of wine with other alcoholic beverages proves the more significant benefit of the first.
In addition, a small amount of dry red wine will reduce the harm caused to the body by smoking - a habit that you definitely can’t talk about whether it is useful. Red wine for vessels does not hurt due to the positive effect on their endothelium. Smoking impairs the ability of blood vessels to contract or, conversely, to relax. Recovery of endothelial cells returns this ability, including contributing to the normal functioning of the heart. Therefore, the answer to the question “Is red wine good for the heart?” also positive.
According to a study by the University of Massachusetts (USA), red wine in limited doses helps to reduce weight, as it inhibits the formation of new fat cells and helps in the fight against existing ones.
Italian researchers have examined whether dry red wine is helpful in treating inflammatory gum disease. It turned out that some of the components of this drink inhibit the reproduction of harmful microorganisms in the oral cavity, helping to prevent tooth decay, gingivitis and sore throat.
Red wine can improve the state of brain activity, more than 70 scientific studies have been devoted to this. The antioxidant properties of the drink and the decrease in blood clots in the vessels explain its positive effect.
At the University of California, proved that moderate consumption of red wine can improve mood due to the endorphins released at the same time. It turned out that wine brings greater pleasure if it is drunk in rooms decorated in red and blue tones.
Red wine can reduce the risk of lung cancer, prostate cancer, and inhibit the development of breast cancer, however, you must strictly adhere to the norm.
Drinking red wine increases the proportion of “good” cholesterol, positively affects the level of vitamin C, and reduces the allergic reaction.
How much can I drink?
You can talk about the benefits of red wine only when its use is limited. Is it good to drink red wine every day? Yes, but only if the quantity does not exceed one glass for women, and two for men. In addition, this glass of wine can not be drunk at any time, but at the same time with food. It is clear that, based on our lifestyle, if you work in a team, it is better to drink a glass of wine at dinner so as not to embarrass your colleagues with the smell of alcohol.
What is the difference between dry wine and semisweet and sweet?
The difference in wine by the remaining sugar content also explains its classification by type: dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet. To obtain sweeter types, the fermentation process is artificially delayed by the addition of some reagents or by physical action: by cooling the product at the required sugar level.
Is red semisweet wine useful ?
After discussing the issue of “is it good to drink?” dry red wine is compared with semisweet and sweet red wine. If you are at risk of diabetes or already suffer from it, then there can be no question whether red wine is sweet or semi-sweet wine. You need to choose only dry and strictly adhere to the consumption rate.
Controversial issues
After the discovery of various useful components contained in red wine, scientists and doctors were inspired by the idea of creating a drug based on it that can fight many diseases. However, significant results so far, these studies have not given.
In addition, arguing whether red wine is useful in the prevention of cancer, it is necessary to remember that in addition to useful components, alcohol is present in the product, which can provoke the development of certain types of cancer.
It should also be borne in mind that the beneficial components contained in wine do not come into it from the skin or pulp of the berries, but from the bones that release them during fermentation. However, not all modern varieties are made so that the substances have time to come from the seeds to the drink. Therefore, when discussing whether red wine is useful, it is better to choose cooked according to traditional technologies.