Are you a social drinker? How many glasses of wine do you drink per week or per night? Have you ever wondered how your wine consumption may be affecting your health?
Keep in mind, I’m not giving professional medical advice. These are things that I have found through experience and thought they might be helpful to you. After reading this, if you have any concerns whatsoever about how wine affects you, make sure you consult your doctor.
It’s been thrown out there for a long time that wine is good for your health if consumed in moderation. Over the years, red wine has gotten all the kudos, but studies are beginning to show that white wine has many of the same health benefits.
Here are the seven aspects of health that wine is known to positively impact:
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Heart Health
A moderate drinker is 30% less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who don’t drink at all.
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Diabetes
Studies show that moderate drinkers have a 30% lower chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes. These studies also show that having a nightly glass of red wine is safe for most diabetics ... just make sure not to exceed that limit.
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Depression
Drinking 2 to 7 glasses of wine per week is associated with lower rates of depression. However, once your drinking goes from moderate to too much, the chance of feeling depressed actually goes up because heavy drinking is associated with high rates of depression.
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Breast Cancer Risk
Regular drinking usually puts people at a higher risk for cancer, but there’s one exception to that rule … red wine. Moderate red wine drinking has been linked to lower rates of breast cancer. The chemicals found in the skins of red grapes have been found to reduce estrogen levels and increase testosterone levels in pre-menopausal women. This shift in hormones can lower the risk of breast cancer.
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Stroke Risk
People who drink one or two glasses per night have an 8% lower risk of having a stroke. However, don’t over do it. Heavy drinkers, those having at least four drinks per night, have a 14% increased risk of strokes compared to those who don’t drink or only drink occasionally.
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Sunburn / Skin Cancer Risk
A Spanish study in “The Journal of Agriculture, Food and Chemistry” found that the antioxidants in wine can help protect the human body from harmful UV rays. Specifically, the antioxidant called Flavonoids can stop the chemical process that kills skin cells and leads to sunburn.
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Life Expectancy
Enjoying a nightly glass of wine may lead to a longer life. Research shows that regular wine drinkers have a 34% lower rate of mortality than their beer or liquor drinking companions.
I don't know about you, but I'd like to be healthy in each of these areas! Keep the wine coming! After all, as The Talmud says, "The fruit of the vine nourishes, refreshes, and cheers. Wine is the foremost of medicines ... wherever wine is lacking, medicine becomes necessary."
For more on this topic, check out this video.