Many people believe that red wine can reduce the risk of various diseases and has the effect of strengthening the body. This is because red wine is made from crushed and fermented grapes, and grapes are rich in various antioxidants, which can reduce the risk of obesity. The impression of suffering from cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and the risk of death; there is even a school of thought that “drinking alcohol in moderation” is healthier than “not drinking at all”.
Is drinking red wine really good for your health?
The effect of red wine? Why is red wine considered good for the body?
Grapes contain antioxidants such as resveratrol, catechin, epicatechin and procyanidin, among which resveratrol and procyanidin are considered to be beneficial to the health of red wine. reason.
Proanthocyanidins can be said to be a natural antioxidant that has the most positive impact on the human body. It can also be seen in green tea and chocolate. It is very helpful in inhibiting blood clots and helping to prevent heart disease and cancer; while resveratrol is Existing in grape skin, it can reduce and protect skin from damage and aging caused by ultraviolet radiation. (Extended reading/Behind the brilliance of Japanese whiskey: What is the unique flavor? How is it different from the Scottish process?)
Myth 1. Drinking red wine = getting healthier?
Helena Conibear, co-director of the International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research, points out that early studies have found that low levels of BMI at the outset can be affected by small, regular doses of alcohol. Drink alcohol and get healthier.
After the release of this study, nearly 1,000 papers were published, all of which reiterated the same view. It was not until the research in recent years that it was overturned, and even the opposite result was obtained. Conibel also explained that from recent years of research, people who drink red wine usually also do more exercise, have a wealthier family background, and have a healthier physique.
In other words, it is not that drinking red wine can make you healthier, but that people who drink red wine may be healthier themselves.
Myth 2. Can red wine help reduce the chances of suffering from high blood pressure, stroke and other diseases?
In order to determine whether a small amount of alcohol consumption is really related to a lower risk of heart disease, in a 2019 study, people with poor health were first excluded, and a 10-year follow-up survey was conducted on more than 500,000 adults in China, and it was found that especially Two genetic variants (ALDH2-rs671 and ADH1B-rs1229984) affect drinking patterns.
“People without genetic defects can drink as much as they want, but those with dysfunctional enzymes cannot tolerate alcohol at all.” Chen Zhengming, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, said that drinking patterns are actually related to genes Great relationship.
In order to prove this statement, the researchers found in this experiment that the more people who drink, the higher the risk of developing high blood pressure and stroke, while those who drink 1 to 2 alcohol units (1 to 2 small glasses of wine) a day people, the risk has not been reduced. More importantly, there is no data in the study that “drinking will make you healthier”.
Myth 3. “Drinking a little” red wine is healthier than “not drinking at all”?
“Although red wine may be the healthiest choice among alcoholic beverages, it is actually healthier not to drink alcohol at all.” Caroline Le Roy, a researcher at Kings College London (Kings College London), explained that alcohol is harmful to the human body. Still causing some level of harm, if you do drink it, drink red wine, but that doesn’t mean drinking red wine is a healthy choice.
She added that although red wine contains resveratrol, which is beneficial to the body, some researchers still believe that the amount is not enough to positively help the human body. What’s more, red wine has been shown to raise blood pressure, which can take a toll on the body even at low levels of alcohol intake.
Want to be healthier? “Eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising more is the best and most effective way, instead of pouring yourself a glass of wine.” Mark ‧ Director of Policy Research and International Development, Public Health Wales, UK Bellis (Mark Bellis) said that people should not drink red wine to be healthy, because the real health is not to drink.
References / BBC, The Telegraph, Healthline