Is Wine Good for You? What Does Science Say?By ROGER DOBSON, Daily MailWine drinkers have never had it so good. Not only does a glass or two, or even three, taste rather good, it's remarkably healthy, too, protecting against a whole range of diseases. Cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia, early death - you name it and the contents of a bottle of vino will cure it, according to almost half the researchers investigating the phenomenon. The problem is that the other half reckon that drinking wine can lead to serious health damage, causing cancer, heart disease, stroke, infertility and myriad other disorders. In the latest studies, doctors have found that a few glasses of wine a week can protect women against high blood pressure, and men and women over 55 from blocked leg arteries. For consumers, the growing number of research results like these just adds to the confusion about whether drinking-wine is really beneficial. In the past, the health guidance on drinking was quite simple: don't.

Even a small amount probably did some harm, it was thought, and anything above the equivalent of 10 pints of beer a week was tantamount to suicide. But things have changed. Over the past few years, there have been almost as many health studies on alcohol as there are grapes in a vineyard, and each one has a new theory. Many suggest that a moderate amount of wine is good for mind and body. The result is that the whole issue of health and wine has become as cloudy as a bottle of home-made elderberry. There are even disputes over what type of wine is best. So what is the truth about wine and your health - is it poison or medicine? Food poisoning: a glass or two of red and white wine with a meal kills the bacteria responsible for almost all illnesses caused by food. Brain: wine improves brain function in older women. French researchers found that women over 50 who drank two or more glasses of wine daily were 2.5 times more likely to score in the top 10 per cent in tests. Arteries: those who drink one or two glasses of wine a day have a reduced risk of developing blocked arteries in the legs.

Wine improves circulation, dilates blood vessels and raises good cholesterol. Infections: red wine, unlike some other forms of alcohol, does not suppress the immune system. Cells fighting off infections are unaffected by moderate amounts. Dementia: a glass of red wine a day might help ward off neurodegenerative diseases. A compound called resveratrol in grapes stimulates an enzyme in the brain involved in nerve regeneration. Heart attack: people who drink up to 30 units of alcohol a week are less likely to die of a heart attack than abstainers. Moderate drinking - two glasses of wine for men and one for women - may improve the chances of surviving a heart attack. Eyesight: moderate drinking of wine - but not beer or spirits - has been linked to a lower risk of age-related degeneration of the retina, which can lead to blindness. Jogging: runners who drink moderately - two glasses of wine a day - have raised levels of good cholesterol. Infertility: women drinking five units or fewer a week are twice as likely to conceive within six months as women drinking more than 10 units a week.

Sex: in men, too much alcohol can dilate blood vessels in the body, including those supplying the penis, with a detrimental effect on performance. Blood level of testosterone also falls as alcohol levels rise. what is the best bottle of wine in the worldHeavy drinking can also lead to testicular shrivelling, hormonal changes and enlarged breast tissue in men. beer and wine open nowAcne: alcohol may be a trigger for acne rosacea, and red wine - as well as champagne, gin, beer and whisky - has been implicated. best red wine in japanCancer: heavy and sustained drinking, usually involving more than 30 units a week for men, has been linked to a range of cancers including mouth, liver, throat, colon and stomach tumours. best organic wine list

In women it has been associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer. Pregnancy: one boozy binge by the mother during critical times in the pregnancy can damage the foetus. best wine restaurant londonSeveral hours of drinking can delete millions of neurones from the baby's developing brain. where to buy dry wineOne glass of wine a week is allowed. best wine for tasting menuBreast-feeding: alcohol is still toxic to the baby's developing brain. age good wine guideDuring the first two years mothers are advised not to drink. box of wine qualityDepression: although alcohol is often used as a way of coping with anxiety, it can be a depressant after three or more units.

Weight: alcohol is rich in calories and boosts appetite. Such calories have no beneficial nutrients.Red wine is bad for your health, experts reveal in a new report. In a u-turn, Government experts have dismissed the supposed health benefits of wine and are set to rewrite the rule book on the nation's alcohol consumption, according to reports. A landmark report by Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies due to be published on Friday will destroy the long-held belief that red wine can cut the risk of cancer, heart disease and memory loss when drunk in moderation, the Sun reported. • Black pudding hailed as a 'superfood' • End of injections in sight for diabetics after new discovery In the first overhaul of alcohol guidelines for two decades, doctors will reportedly warn that there is no "safe" level of alcohol consumption and drinking just a small amount may in fact increase the risk of some cancers.   A source said: "The report will send a clear signal that the dangers of drinking are far more than previously thought."

The review was launched in 2012 and its findings are expected to reflect the latest research that links even occasional alcohol consumption to health problems in later life. The Government currently advises men do not drink more than three to four units per day - up to 21 units or less per week - while women should drink no more than two to three units a day, or 14 units per week. Under the new guidelines the gender difference will be thrown out and drinkers will be to keep off the booze for at least two days a week in order to allow their livers to recover. A recent study by University College London found patients who gave up for four weeks saw benefits for their liver function, blood pressure and cholesterol levels and were also at lower risk of developing diabetes and liver disease. And a report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) advised middle-aged people there is "no safe level of alcohol consumption". It says the same health benefits can be more easily achieved with exercise and healthy eating.

Is red wine good or bad for you? With researchers divided on whether or not red wine should be considered healthy, we take a closer look at the arguments for and against regular consumption of red wine. @Telegraph Who are these co called 'experts'? What do they know. Keep changing their minds. I'll stick to red wine in moderation.— Graham Adams (@GrahamAdams87) The evidence for Red wine could... Stop weight gain As well as the recent study from Washington State University, in 2012 researchers in Korea found that another compound found in red grapes called 'piceatannol' has the ability to block the processes that cause fat cells to grow. Prevent cancer Scientists have revealed that 'resveratrol' may also help to prevent head and neck cancer. Researchers found that the compound has the potential to kill the damaged cells that can lead to certain cancers. The evidence against But red wine could also... Hamper muscle healing Though resveratrol does help to slow down the ageing process, if taken in high doses it can have the opposite effect.