Red wine is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermentation from red grapes.
It was known to mankind in pre-biblical times. Everyone drank wine: the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and the kings of Israel, and the Greek philosophers. There are frequent references to him in the Bible itself. It is not known for certain who first came up with the idea of making this drink from grapes. We only know that in Damascus they discovered a grape press that is more than 8,000 years old!
In the world there are many varieties and types of red wine. And all of these species and varieties have fans. In some countries, red wine is drunk twice a day: for lunch and dinner.
Health benefits of red wine. Is she there?
It turns out yes. Red wine contains antioxidants. This means that it can improve our health, prevent aging, lower cholesterol. What specific benefits do lovers get for a glass of wine at dinner? Here is a list that will reveal the benefits of red dry wine.
Favors weight loss
Oregon State College of Agrarian Studies conducted research and found that a daily glass of red wine helps to reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver, it helps maintain low blood glucose, lowers blood fats, so it is beneficial for people with high cholesterol. Ellagic acid, found in many fruits and berries, activates a gene that maintains a low level of fat in the body and prevents the formation of new fat cells - adipocytes.
In addition, research scientists have proven that wine tames the feeling of hunger, especially in cases where the appetite rises on the nervous system. This does not allow you to eat large portions.
Natural antioxidant in the fight against low density lipoproteins
One of the important substances contained in red wine - resveratrol - has antioxidant, antitumor and antibacterial properties. This substance reduces the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. In the eighties of the twentieth century in France, the bulk of the population ate foods rich in saturated fats. This was fraught with high blood cholesterol. Cholesterol is responsible for diseases such as myocardial infarction, apoplexy, high blood pressure and many other cardiovascular diseases.
The French in their mass can not imagine life without lunch or dinner with a glass of good red wine. Owing to this national tradition of theirs, they very rarely encounter the diseases listed above in comparison with residents of other countries where they do not consume dry red wine during meals.
Lowering the level of bad cholesterol occurs due to saponins - substances that dissolve in wine alcohol, thereby lowering the dangerous factor of cardiological diseases.
For the brain
Reservatol - a substance that we have already mentioned - can bring many benefits to our body. For example, not so long ago, studies were conducted, which revealed that moderate consumption of dry red wine can prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. By drinking a glass of red wine a day, we can also prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis: blood liquefies and circulates faster in the brain, saturating it with oxygen. This helps to avoid memory problems, the danger of which increases with age.
For gums and teeth
Another health benefit of dry red wine is that it prevents gum and tooth diseases. Have you noticed the blood that comes out on your gums while brushing your teeth? If your answer is “Yes,” you can try using wine as an anti-inflammatory. Fermented grapes can prevent the development of streptococci and bacteria that cause tooth decay. In addition, dry red wine helps in the fight against gingivitis and sore throat.
For mental health
Spanish researchers have found that red wine releases endorphins into the brain, and this reduces the likelihood of depression. And here again the substance reservatrol appears, which gives us a sense of inner calm and helps to fight with bad mood and spleen. But do not forget that this is possible only with moderate use of red dry wine, the dose should be low.
Reduces the risk of cancer
One of the best properties of red wine, the benefits of which is beyond doubt, is that wine is a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that slow the growth of pathological cells that cause diseases such as lung and breast cancer. And again the reservatrol! Together with the substance quercetin, they block estrogens, which sometimes "go crazy" and can cause breast or intestinal cancer.
Do not forget that drinking dry red wine does not mean treating cancer, it is prevention.
Other useful properties
Wine aids digestion: actively supports the intestinal flora, helps the stomach absorb the right fats.
Helps the urinary system: due to its antioxidant properties, red wine prevents the formation of sand and kidney stones.
Due to its antioxidant properties, which we have mentioned more than once in this article, wine slows down the aging of not only skin, but also bones. Thus preventing osteoporosis. Thus, the benefits of red wine for women are obvious.
Which wine is better - white or red?
Despite the fact that the benefits of white wine are widely known, red wine is still healthier. It has a lot more nutrients. If you express the benefits of white and red wines in numbers, you can safely say that red wine is 10 times more useful than white! Because only white grape juice takes part in the fermentation of white wine, and the pulp - peel and grains - is separated from the juice. However, valuable reservatrol is contained in it.
Red wine: benefits and harms
An important question. We have already talked about the benefits of red dry wine, but is there any harm from this wonderful drink? Of course, he is, alas.
The main harm from wine is the risk of getting alcoholism. Paracelsus said: "There is medicine in a drop, poison in a spoon." He probably talked about wine too, because in his time they drank red wine, they knew about the benefits and harms even then. The fact is that often people do not know the measure and are overly fond of wine. Or they are not familiar with the culture of wine drinking. In no case should one overuse wine; from this it loses all its excellent beneficial properties. Yes, the wine tastes very good, and it’s hard not to drink again and again, but if you don’t do it, be in trouble.
Also, the harm of wine lies in the fact that sometimes people intoxicated become aggressive and can cause harm not only to themselves, but to others.
Legend of the Prophet Mohammed and Wine
Once the prophet Mohammed went about his business somewhere and saw a company of men sitting, everyone drinks wine, they talk peacefully, they philosophize. The Prophet thought: “But a good drink, I guess. Wine brings together. ” After a while, the prophet comes back and sees the same company, which mutuates each other, everyone was very aggressive, they shouted some incoherent phrases. The Prophet Mohammed separated them, scolded them, sent them home, goes on and thinks: "No, after all, the wine divides." Since then, he has forbidden his people to drink any alcohol, away from sin.
What other harm can uncontrolled consumption of wine bring?
Red dry wine can bring benefits and harm. What exactly is up to you. Please note the following negative consequences:
1) Irritation of the digestive tract: if you have high acidity, be extremely careful. Because wine can trigger an attack of gastritis, Barrett's disease, peptic ulcer and esophageal reflux.
2) The histamine contained in red wine in people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can provoke unpleasant attacks of diarrhea.
3) Red wine interferes with the absorption of vitamin B1. And this means that the risk of developing Wernicke encephalopathy is significantly increased.
4) In cases of abuse of red wine, the risk of cancer pathologies increases sharply, as a rule, it is stomach or intestinal cancer.
5) With excessive libations, the risk of triglyceridemia increases due to an increase in triglycerides.
6) The toxic effects of alcohol on the kidneys can lead to dehydration.
7) The possibility of the development of pathologies such as cirrhosis and liver failure, which can result in oncological diseases of the liver.
8) Lowering the level of glucose in the blood, that is, hypoglycemia.
9) Excessive consumption of wine can lead to insomnia and other sleep disorders.
10) It is strictly not recommended to drink red dry wine for pregnant women, this can entail irreparable damage to the health of the unborn child.
So, in this article we examined many aspects of drinking wine and came to the conclusion: there is benefit and harm from red dry wine, but what exactly you get will depend on the dose.
And remember, the aphorism of Pliny the Elder actually sounded like this: In vino veritas multum mergitur - "The truth has drowned more than once in wine."