Red Wine: Raise a Glass to Your Health

In order to stay healthy, it’s recommended to eat fresh diet meals, exercise regularly, and sleep well. And some may go even a step further and ditch alcohol altogether. However, research suggests that drinking the occasional glass of red wine may in fact promote longevity by helping to protect against heart disease and harmful inflammation, among other benefits.

source: medicalnewstoday.com

While alcoholic drinks, in general, are known to have harmful effects on your body, red wine has actually been shown to improve a person’s wellbeing. The secret to enjoying the benefits of wine is linked to how much you drink and it turns out, the type of wine you choose. Different cultivars of grapes contain different nutrients. Plus, wines are also prepared in many different ways, meaning some have more sugar than others. But overall, red wine is healthier than white, rose or sparkling wine. So, if you want to drink up the healthy way, start by browsing the range of red wine online or at your nearest supermarket.

What Is the Difference Between Red Wines?

To understand the difference between red wines, first, you need to know what tannins are. Tannins are a naturally occurring substance in grapes (and other plants as well). The taste of tannin can be described as bitter, causing a dry feeling in the mouth. This substance ends up in the wine when the winery lets the skin to sit in the grape juice as it ferments. This is in fact also how wines get their colours. Wines that have little or no contact with skin end up pink or white, with much fewer tannins. Wines that are allowed to ferment with the skin for a long period end up red, with high tannin content. As you can assume, red grape skins have more tannins than white grapes.

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Tannin also provides the backbone of red wine, which is why wine experts might describe a red wine as firm and leathery or just plain bitter. Tannin also gives red wine texture, making it feel smooth and soft or rough and chewy. As a rule of thumb, the darker the wine, the higher the tannin, the dryer the taste and the healthier it is for you. The sweeter the wine, the bigger its sugar content, which obviously isn’t healthy.

If you are looking to get a little health boost with your next glass of wine, keep the following options in mind when shopping for red wine online or at local alcohol stores.

Pinot Noir

This is the number one red wine on our list because it is by far the healthiest. Pinot Noir contains the highest concentration of resveratrol of all wines. Resveratrol is an antioxidant compound known to improve heart health by lowering bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Research suggests it can improve insulin sensitivity, brain health and increase the lifespan. Research has also shown the high resveratrol in Pinot Noir may fight the negative effects of Alzheimer’s, dementia and other degenerative neurological illness. The lower sugar content and fewer calories compared to other red wines are additional benefits you enjoy by choosing to drink Pinot Noir.

Malbec

source: telegraph.co.uk

Malbec grapes are well-known for their thick skins, which means they are packed with resveratrol, quercetin and other antioxidants that are beneficial to cardiovascular and immune health. Malbec wine contains about four-times the antioxidant content as Merlot and nearly twice as much as Cabernet Sauvignon. Malbec also contains high levels of polyphenols, which also act as powerful antioxidants. They have the ability to help prevent cellular damage from free radicals that occur from pollution, smoking and byproducts of normal metabolism. Polyphenols also have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, which can help lower the risk of several chronic diseases.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted wine grapes in the world. It contains a chemical known for its ability to kill certain strains of cavity-causing bacteria and protects damage to tooth enamel. Cabernet Sauvignon is also an excellent source of proanthocyanidins, which are potent antioxidants known to reduce oxidative stress in the body. It also contains epicatechin and catechin, which are plant compounds that protect against the flu and other infections.

Merlot

In addition to containing a satisfying dose of resveratrol, the phenolics present in Merlot may prevent the formation of bad cholesterol in the blood, a major cause of plaquing of the arteries. A study suggests that sipping 260 ml of Merlot changes the mix of good and bad bacteria round in the colon win ways that can benefit your health and improve the immune system. Merlot also contains melatonin, which can help relax the mind and induce sleep. So, if you have trouble sleeping, next time you buy red wine online, opt for Merlot.

Petite Sirah

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This wine contains great levels of natural tannins, antioxidants and resveratrol. This wine is also a great source of polyphenols and other heart-healthy antioxidants which have been linked to the prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurological diseases. Wines rich in polyphenols are generally robust and bold and often described as astringent. More bitterness in wine is also linked with the level of procyanidin content. This means, if you like a dry bitter healthy wine, Petite Sirah is an excellent choice for you.