Red wine is often touted for its power to prevent heart disease. But some research suggests that other types of alcohol such as white wine and beer may be just as beneficial.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
The Claim: Red wine is good for you.
I buy red wine because I believe it’s healthier for you.
I’ve heard that red wine is good especially for your heart, so l like to have a glass with dinner especially when I go out.
In the past few decades, sales of red wine have soared. A big reason is its reputation for being healthful. While there could be some truth to this, red wine may not fully deserve to be the toast of the alcohol world.
Red wine’s purported benefits are often attributed to an antioxidant it contains known as resveratrol.
Studies suggest the compound may help the heart by relaxing blood vessels and preventing blood clots.
But this research by and large is in animals and test tubes, so it’s hard to know whether resveratrol in red wine actually prevents heart attacks in people.
In studies following thousand of people for many years suggest that red wine may not deserve its exalted status.
They find that alcohol of all types, whether red wine, white wine, beer or hard liquor, is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Scientists suspect the alcohol in general may be beneficial by raising HDL, the good cholesterol, and preventing clotting.
But it’s important to remember that alcohol also has downsides.
It’s been linked to breast cancer in women.
And binge or heavy drinking poses all kinds of serious risks from injuries to liver damage, which far outweigh any possible benefits.
So what’s the optimal amount? Generally, experts in the U.S. say up to two drinks a day for men and one for women who aren’t pregnant or breast-feeding.
A “drink” means 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
So whether your drink of choice is red wine, white wine or something else, enjoy in moderation. But if you don’t drink, don’t feel a need to start. There are plenty of other ways to protect your heart, including exercising. That’s how I spend my happy hour!