Does Red Wine Lower Cholesterol
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Don’t feel guilty if you indulge in the occasional glass of red wine with dinner. This habit may actually be beneficial for your health, lowering your risk for heart disease, according to an article published in “Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis” in 2010. Drinking one to two glasses of red wine per day may help lower your bad cholesterol while increasing your good cholesterol.
Can Improve Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol is another one of those health markers that plagues more and more countries. People who enjoy a moderate amount of red wine seem to have better cholesterol readings than those who abstain or overdrink.
Again, resveratrol probably takes the credit here. Resveratrol is known to;inhibit the lipid peroxidation processesin other words, it can help prevent the buildup of fat along the arteries.;
This reduces the amount of cholesterol found in the bloodstream and can help prevent some of the medical conditions that come along with high cholesterol. Diet and exercise still play a hugely important role, of course, but red wine provides a little extra help.
Are You Drinking The Best Red Wine For Heart Health
by drspar | All, Fitness & Nutrition |
Have you heard about the benefits of drinking red wine but dismissed the claims as too good to be true? Believe the hype! While you obviously wont do yourself any favors if you down a bottle every night, moderate consumption of red wine has consistently been shown to positively impact healthparticularly when it comes to the heart.
What makes red wine so heart-healthy? Research points to its abundant antioxidant content. Red wine is rich in polyphenols, which are powerful fighters of free radicals. One of these polyphenols, resveratrol, may help protect blood vessels from damage and prevent clotting. Resveratrol can also lower LDL cholesterol levels. A review examining the results of various studies involving red wine and the heart concluded that red wine as a diet supplement might be beneficial for cardiovascular risk factors. In other words, drinking red wine could help lower your chances of developing heart problems.
Lets say youre already a card-carrying member of the vino club. Are you drinking the best red wine for heart health? Here are some things to consider when choosing a wine.
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Red Wine May Help Prevent Blood Clots
Some research has found that drinking red wine may decrease platelet aggregation, which can also help reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.;
Platelets are tiny cells in our blood that bind together around damaged blood vessels when we become injured. This clotting is what stops us from bleeding and helps us heal when we get a minor cut.;
However, when platelets aggregate too much, they can form blood clots. Blood clots are serious because they can block the flow of blood and oxygen to vital organs, increasing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.;
By reducing the stickiness of the platelets in your blood, red wine can help prevent blood clots and reduce your risk for health complications. For example, a 2002 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine measured platelet aggregation levels in male volunteers after moderate wine consumption and found they were significantly inhibited.;
Has Positive Effects On The Digestive System
The anti-bacterial nature of red wines has enabled it to treat stomach irritation and other digestive disorders. Wine consumption has also proven to reduce the risk of infection from Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium usually found in the stomach.
Excessive drinking of alcohol can have a number of negative effects on the body, which include liver cirrhosis, weight gain etc. It can even pose a threat to life. However, that doesnt mean you cannot indulge in drinking your favorite red wine once in awhile. Ideally, it shouldnt be more than 1-1.5 glasses a day for women and 1-2 glasses a day for men. It is also advisable to skip wine for 1 or 2 days in between so that there is sufficient gap in drinking. However, this should be your total drinking limit and not for wine alone.
It is not always necessary to consume wine by the glass alone. You can use it as an ingredient in your food or prepare a red wine sauce to go with your dinner and still reap the same benefits. Red wine also has a host of other health benefits such as treating headaches, reducing calorie intake by killing the appetite, etc.
If you are a wine lover you can use it to your own health benefits by consuming it in the right amounts. Although, there are other ways of staying healthy, wine enthusiasts can mend their drinking ways and ensure a better, disease free life.
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Where Does All The Extra Cholesterol Come From
While your body makes all the cholesterol you need, you also get some from your diet. Cholesterol is found in animal-derived foods such as beef, chicken, fish, and cheese. Because of this, it was long thought that dietary cholesterol contributed to elevated blood cholesterol.
We used to recommend that patients limit their consumption of foods like eggs yolks if they had high cholesterol. We now know that dietary cholesterol in the amounts Americans typically consume has very little influence on blood cholesterol levels.
Stay Away From Huge Wineries
Leroy Creasy, PhD, a professor emeritus in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, measured the resveratrol content in 100 different red wines. He advises avoiding big wineries because their wine is typically produced by chemists who may mellow out the wine to shorten aging timea process that reduces resveratrol. Look for wines from traditional or boutique wineries instead or, even better, organic wineries.
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Myth: Red Wine Is Good For Everyone
Fact: ;Women and men experience alcohol differently, so they should consume it differently. One glass of wine per day is plenty for women, while men shouldnt drink more than two glasses a day.
We still dont really know if red wine is good for heart health. Until theres more information available, its best to drink moderately and talk to your doctor. For information about other heart-healthy practices, contact the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.
Surprising Side Effects Wine Has On Your Gut Says Science
While it’s not always associated with the image of health, drinking wine, especially red wine, has been linked to a multitude of health benefits. The alcoholic beverage made of fermented grapes has become well-known for the positive impact that it has on heart health, and it can also lower cholesterol. A compound found in wine has also been linked to slowing the progression of endometriosis in women.
Of course, like any other alcoholic beverage, wine also has its downfalls when it comes to maintaining health, including an increased risk of depression, according to a study from Kings College London.;But what role does the drink play specifically when it comes to the gut? In some cases, studies have shown that wine has a beneficial impact on the health of our guts, but there have also been studies showing that some wines can be harmful to digestion.
Here are the surprising side effects wine has on your gut that you may not have known about, and for even more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
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Excess Amounts Of Wine Can Increase The Risk Of Certain Cancers
We all know that cigarettes cause cancer, but the link between;alcohol and cancer;hasn’t attracted nearly the same amount of attention.
;Nevertheless, the;World Health Organization;lists alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means that it is as dangerous as asbestos. Excess amounts of alcohol are linked to an;increased risk of breast cancer, as well as cancers of the throat, lungs, liver, and mouth.
On top of what we know about alcohol, the fermentation process also leads to undesirable compounds such as acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a Group B2 carcinogen in its own right and something you want to avoid as best you can.
Drinking Red Wine Every Night Can Help You Sleep Better And Live Longer
We hear a lot of conflicting thoughts about drinking. On the one hand, alcohol consumption can put a strain on your liver function and is believed to contribute to certain forms of cancer. On the other hand, doctors say that alcohol in moderation helps you relax and relieve stress, which is crucial for a healthy mind and body.
But according to a new study by;the Ben-Gurion;University of the Negev in Israel, a glass of wine at night can actually help in preventing such things as;cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes, and even help you live longer.
Now, before you go nuts and start chugging Merlot like there aint no tomorrow, reread that last sentence very carefully. A glass of red wine helps those things.;A, as in;one;glass with dinner. Not ten. So, yeah, while its pretty rad that red wine might now officially be considered good for you, it only applies when consumed in real moderation.
In the study, 224 people who werent current wine drinkers were told to drink five ounces a night of either;mineral water, dry white wine, or dry red wine every night, while also following a calorie-restricted Mediterranean-style diet. They did;this for two years, filling out questionnaires along the way and having blood drawn at both six months and two years in to get a look at;glycemic control, lipids, and liver function.
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Your Body Needs Just Enough Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that travels through your blood. At persistently elevated levels, its linked to an increased risk in heart disease. But cholesterol isnt a bad guy on its own. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to function properly.
The problem is, your body needs only a small amount of it, and your liver produces enough to meet your bodys needs.
It Could Lead To Bacterial Overgrowth
There are numerous positive side effects associated with wine consumptions, but just one glass of wine, or other alcoholic beverages, for women and two servings for men per day could lead to small intestine bacterial overgrowth, a condition in which an excessive amount of bacteria grows in the small intestine.
The condition, which impacts the small intestine, could lead to bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, according to a study done by the American College of Gastroenterology, which links moderate drinking to small intestine bacterial overgrowth.
“While commercial wines are filtered to get rid of nearly all bacteria and sediment, the sugar and polyphenols, the antioxidants that give red wine its passionate color, feed good gut bacteria and can also contribute to the bacteria overgrowth in small intestine bacterial overgrowth,” says Melanie Keller, a naturopathic doctor and expert in gut health.
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How To Raise Your Hdl
For those who need to boost their HDL, lifestyle changes are the answer. “The best way to raise your HDL is through aerobic exercise, avoiding fatty foods and having a glass of red wine every day,” says Dr. Higgins.
Build your diet around vegetables, fruits, lean protein and low-fat dairy as well as heart-healthy nuts, states the Cleveland Clinic. The Mediterranean diet is a great way to put all these choices on the menu. Avoid trans fats, still found in some packaged foods, like cakes and cookies, and fried foods, margarine and saturated fats, found in animal-based foods like beef, full-fat dairy and butter, states the Mayo Clinic.
When it comes to alcohol, Mayo Clinic notes that moderate alcohol use has been linked to higher levels of HDL, but drinking alcohol for this purpose is a slippery slope because too much can cause weight gain, high blood pressure and elevated triglyceride levels. Also, Harvard Health Publishing warns that more than two drinks a day can raise your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
“The best evidence for alcohol increasing HDL is for red wine at about one glass per day,” says Dr. Higgins. “Other types of alcohol, like beer and mixed drinks, have less benefit and more empty calories. Don’t think you can save up your wine drinking till the end of the week and have seven glasses. If you drink wine, just one glass per day is all you need.”
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What Not To Do
You may have heard that taking the B-vitamin niacin in supplement form can help raise your HDL, but according to the Harvard Health Publishing, there’s no benefit to using any supplements to get your HDL above the sweet spot.
Finally, the Mayo Clinic suggests these steps: Don’t smoke and avoid drugs or supplements that contain testosterone or anabolic steroids, drugs that lower HDL.
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What Are The Benefits Of Red Wine For Lowering High Blood Pressure
Why do you need to find the best red wine for health? If you are suffering from high blood pressure, heart problems, or you just want to feel healthier in the long run, getting your hands on the best red wine is worth it. There are plenty of health benefits associated with this drink such as:
It can raise good cholesterol From the food that we eat daily, there is a high chance that there are some ingredients that are causing your bad cholesterol to go up. This can lead to high blood pressure if you are not careful because plaques can form in your arteries. Drinking the best red wine for health, on the other hand, can raise your good cholesterol, so that there is less risk of you harming your heart health.
It can protect your heart Another benefit to drinking red wine is that it protects your heart. This is due to the antioxidants present in red wine that help make the blood vessels flexible which can reduce blood clotting to occur. Theyre almost as effective as taking aspirin for your heart health. However, make sure that you dont go overboard with your drinking as it can have dangerous side effects.
It regulates blood sugar If you have diabetes, drinking the best red wine for health can aid in regulating your blood sugar levels. This is because the skins of red grapes, which are used in making wine, contain the compound resveratrol that has positive effects on a persons blood sugar.
How Can Wine Be Healthy
For many of the positive effects of wine, the full benefits only come when you drink in moderation.;
The concept of;hormesis;and the;hormetic zone;refers to the dosage of a particular substance or physical stress which causes a positive biological effect. Generally, these stressors have a J-shaped dose-response, where some exposure is “good for you” but continued exposure can cause damage.
The classic example is;working out. Working out 3-6 times a week for an hour or 2 builds an impressive physique, but too much exercise can lead to injury and symptoms of overtraining.
So too for wine; a moderate amount of wine a glass or two a night, maximum can have positive effects. However, too much alcohol over time has the opposite effect you can assume that most of the benefits in my list will dry up.
Of course, too much wine also leads to acute effects… like a terrible hangover that’ll ruin your day.
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If You Choose To Drink How Much Is Moderate
As a general rule, a moderate amount of red wine in a night is no more than one glass for women and two glasses for men. Depending on your age, weight, height, and gender, you may be able to drink slightly more or less than some of your friends or family members.;
More than that can be dangerous, however, and the;National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism;sets a maximum of fourteen drinks per week for men and seven for women.
In this context, a “drink” is defined as around;fourteen grams of pure alcohol. In red wine, this translates to about five fluid ounces of table wine.;
Might Aid In Weight Loss
Even if you’re already at a healthy weight… who isn’t on the lookout for ways to keep their diets on track? According to scientists at Washington State University, a moderate amount of red wine;can actually help you lose weight;and keep weight off in a healthy, sustainable way.
As mentioned earlier, red wine contains compounds that can help prevent your body from converting food sources into fat. This helps protect the veins and the heart, but it;also;means that the energy from high-fat foods is more likely to be stored as beige fat instead of white fat.;
Beige and brown fat are thermogenic fats that;actually help you burn off your fat deposits, while white fat is the traditional “bad” accumulated fat.
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It Can Lead To Nausea
It’s no surprise to anyone that when you drink too much, throwing up is a likely consequence. Vomiting is one of the body’s ways of getting rid of toxins, especially excess toxins from drinking too much alcohol. This can happen with every type of alcoholic beverage, including wine.
While nausea and vomiting are uncomfortable and painful for many people, persistent vomiting can also lead to serious health problems, including inflaming the stomach and esophagus, acid reflux, and tearing the esophageal lining.
