Claudia Byatt
Food & Wine

3 surprising facts about red wine

1. Drinking red wine in small doses is better than not at all

It may come as a surprise, but several human trial studies have proven moderate red wine consumption is better for you than not drinking. It’s because the antioxidants in red wine lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, mortality and type-2 diabetes. 

2. Red wine’s health benefits stem from tannin

Almost everything in wine that isn’t alcohol or water is a type of polyphenol. Polyphenols include tannin, colour pigment, wine aromas, resveratrol, and about 5,000 other plant compounds. Of these polyphenols, the most abundant in wine that benefits health are called Procyanidins, which are a type of condensed tannin. The compound is associated with inhibiting cholesterol plaque in the blood vessel, which is beneficial for heart health and longevity.  

3. Some red wines are better for your health than others

Not all red wines are the same. Some wines have more health benefits. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon has more condensed tannins than Pinot Noir. It can be difficult to determine which wines are best for health, but these are the facts: 

So, drink up! Sensibly.

Image credit: Getty

Tags:
Red wine, Health, Drinking