7 Unexpected Benefits of Red Wine

Rounding off the day with a glass of good red wine is a great way to relax after work. Most people know that red wine is good for the heart, but did you know there are several other benefits to the odd glass of red wine?

1. It Protects Your Teeth

This may confuse you, because red wine can stain your teeth, but there is evidence to show that red wine also protects the teeth from bacteria. This is due to the proanthocyanidins, which are flavonoids with antioxidants. (Try saying that sentence after a few glasses of wine!)

These flavonoids help to prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth, which prevents cavities and plaque buildup.

2. It’s a Digestive Aid

A glass of red wine with your meal can help the conversation flow, but it can do more than that for your digestion. Polyphenols in wine help your gut to lessen the harmful effects of certain chemicals before they are sent through the rest of your bodily systems.

They also signal the body to release nitric oxide, which helps relax the walls of your stomach as it fills with food, which improves digestion and may counteract irritable bowel syndrome.

3. Can Help You Stay Slim

Red wine can help suppress your appetite, but that’s not all. Studies show it can halt the growth of fat cells with a substance called piceantannol, which stops the fat cells from fully forming or maturing into fat.

4. Stronger Bones

Studies have shown that red wine consumed in moderation can help maintain strong bones, especially in post-menopausal women who are at risk of osteoporosis. However, over consumption of wine has the opposite effect – it can make bones weaker and more brittle.

5. Can Fight Viruses

The high levels of antioxidant-rich polyphenols in red wine slow down viruses from multiplying once they’re in your system. A study in Spain showed that subjects who drank two or more glasses of red wine a day had a 44% lower incidence of colds than those who didn’t drink.

6. Could Prevent Cancer

The polyphenols- especially resveratrol – in red wine can help fight cancer. Reservatrol has been shown in animal studies to slow the growth of cancer cells and incidence of tumors.

7. Longevity

Reservatrol may also slow down the aging process too. In a new study on worms, reservatrol was shown to extend their lifespan by an amazing 60%. It does this by preventing diseases such as cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but it also triggers the ‘longevity gene’ SIRT1, which boosts general health and wellness.

Just remember, these benefits apply to moderate consumption of red wine – around 1 glass per night for women, 1-2 glasses for men.