We answered five of your most common questions about red wine yesterday, Potatoheads, and found out that it is heart healthy. We felt inspired to dive even deeper into why red wine is good for you. Spoilers: it can help with almost every ailment, from a common cold to preventing a stroke. So pour yourself a hearty glass of Pinot and get settled: we’re presenting the five biggest health benefits of drinking red wine. 1. It can help you ward off a cold. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that among 4,000 faculty members at five Spanish universities, those who drank more than 14 weekly glasses of wine for a year were 40% less likely to come down with a common cold. According to the National Institute of Health, antioxidants in wine are believed to fight infection and protect cells against the effects of free radicals, which may play role in cancer and other diseases. 2. It can regulate your blood sugar. The skin of red grapes—a rich source of red wine’s natural compound resveratrol—may actually help diabetics regulate their blood sugar, finds recent research published in the journal Nutrition.

Study participants who took a 250 mg resveratrol supplement once a day for three months had lower blood glucose levels than those who didn’t take the pill. 3. It lowers your risk of stroke and heart disease. Red wine tannins (which are what make red wine the color red) contain procyanidins, which are known for protecting against heart disease. Resveratrol also helps to remove chemicals responsible for causing blood clots, which is the primary cause of coronary disease and strokes.best australian wine 2012 4. It can boost your metabolism. buy low beer and wineFlavonoids in wine alleviate stress. buy wine society membershipWhen your body is going through a period of high stress, it looks to store the most fat; good red wine italian

flavonoids encourage your body to let go of excess stress hormones, booting metabolism. Red wines with a high amount of flavonoids (think an intense Cabernet or any other dry red) can help regulate your metabolism – in moderation! 5. It can boost your mood. We got this tip from Nutritionist Mikaela Reuben: “Wine, but more specifically red wine, contains resveratrol. Resveratrol can stimulate structural change in the hippocampus of aging rats. These changes are associated with improvements in mood functioning and regulation. best jobs wine industryIt is not determined whether red wine contains enough resveratrol to stimulate structural change and improved mood in a human brain, but it is a great thought, and based on my own personal experience, seems to be legit.”good wine for wife For more wine tips, consult our guide to the best dry white wines, and our favorite red wines under $30.

Get the latest from The New Potato straight to your inbox!Complex WinesFav RedRed Winemaker'sWines I VeTen BucksFavorite WinesFave WineJg's FavoriteFabulous FavoriteForwardI dare say you will not find a red wine under ten bucks that drinks like this one. Apothic is one of the boldest, most luscious and complex wines I've ever enjoyed. It drinks like a bottle that costs three times as much, easily.Do you need a reasonable excuse to drink at least one or two glasses of wine each night? How bout five (reasons, not glasses)? In addition to catching a nice buzz and making you witty, drinking red wine every night brings some very legit health benefits. Plenty of studies explore the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption, and the wise folks at Oregon State’s College of Agricultural Studies observed some of the most promising ones in the The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Share this Image On Your Site

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For those of you who don’t enjoy reading biochemistry journals, we broke down some of their findings in a language you can understand. Protection Against Alzheimer’s: The antioxidant resveratrol shows a strong ability to protect against cell damage and curb the effects of age-related mental decline. The New Workout Plan: While the act of raising a glass to your lips may burn a calorie or two, the real benefit comes from resveratrol yet again, which was shown to improve physical performance and muscle strength. It also shows similar cardiovascular enhancements as exercise. It should be noted that the benefits are limited, so don’t cancel your gym membership just yet. Cancer Fighting: Researchers aren’t exactly sure how, but another active antioxidant in red wine known as quercetin works against cancer cells, according to the American Cancer Society. 

It helps to induce natural cell death in certain types of cancers, most often colon cancer. The Fountain of Youth: Compared to beer and vodka drinkers, people who consume red wine have a 34 percent lower mortality rate. In this study resveratrol was credited as the compound that could be responsible for its longevity benefits. While researchers believe any diet rich in polyphenols has the ability to fight against chronic disease, red wine contains a higher concentration than most foods. A Happier Heart: A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, shared findings on a group of 224 volunteers who were told to drink either 5oz of mineral water, dry white wine, or dry red wine for two years with dinner. Upon concluding the study, Time reports that “the red wine drinkers had significantly increased their levels of good HDL cholesterol and had a more beneficial cholesterol ratio compared to the group that drank water.”Red wine increases blood flow to certain, erhm, areas of the body.

An Italian study showed that women who drank more than two glasses each day had a higher sex drive than abstainers, while a 2012 study showed that men who drank red wine had higher levels of testosterone, which is linked to having a high sex drive.A study of 5,505 participants showed that moderate alcohol intake was strongly associated with a lower risk of depression. Those who drank between two and seven glasses per week had the best results. Good things in moderation While lower cholesterol, better sex, and decreased risk of type-II diabetes all sound great, don’t assume that you can multiply that one glass by five and completely reverse the aging process, toss your Viagra and Lipitor in the trash, and go run the Boston marathon with zero training. Most of these studies conclude that heavy alcohol consumption has its own dangers, so it’s wise to keep things in moderation. 5 smart reasons to drink red wine every night Click To Tweet An Italian study showed women who drank 2 glasses of wine each night enjoy better sex lives.