Is a Glass of Wine a Day Heart-Healthy?
“People shouldn’t think that drinking wine is good for you,” explains a heart specialist. Drinking alcohol is connected to high blood pressure, liver problems, and digestive, mental health and immune system problems, as well as various cancers.
Potential Heart Benefits
However, research indicates that moderate wine consumption could have a few limited perks for your heart health, according to experts. The findings indicate wine can help decrease levels of harmful cholesterol – which may diminish the probability of cardiac conditions, kidney problems and cerebrovascular accident.
Alcohol is not a cure. The notion that an unhealthy diet can be counteracted with wine is flawed.
The reason lies in components that have properties which dilate vessels and reduce swelling, assisting in maintaining vascular openness and elasticity. Additionally, red wine includes antioxidants such as resveratrol, present in grape skins, which may additionally bolster heart health.
Significant Drawbacks and Cautions
Still, there are major caveats. A global health authority has published a statement reporting that any intake of alcohol carries risk; the heart-related advantages of wine are outweighed by it being a group 1 carcinogen, grouped with asbestos and smoking.
Other foods – such as berries and grapes offer similar benefits to wine without those negative effects.
Guidance on Limited Intake
“I would not advise a teetotaler to begin drinking,” says one specialist. But it’s also impractical to demand everyone who currently drinks to become abstinent, commenting: “The crucial factor is moderation. Be prudent. Beverages such as beer and liquor are laden with sugars and energy and can harm the liver.”
One suggestion is consuming up to 20 modest servings of wine per month. A prominent cardiovascular organization recommends not drinking more than 14 units per week of alcoholic drinks (six medium glasses of wine).
The core message is: One must not perceive wine as medicinal. Proper nutrition and positive life choices are the established cornerstones for long-term heart health.
