The truth behind drinking red wine

Most of us will have read the tantalising headlines when it comes to our favourite vices: coffee contains antioxidants, dark chocolate is good for us, and red wine will make us live longer. But if it all sounds too good to be true – is it?

The days are getting shorter and temperatures have dropped. What better way to enjoy these Autumnal nights than tucked up on the sofa with a glass of red wine?

It’s a pleasure that many of us enjoy, but it doesn’t come without health warnings. When we dedicate hours of our day to keeping fit and healthy, is the red nectar helping us, or just hindering?

Let’s get down to the facts.

‘There’s certainly some evidence suggesting that a small amount of red wine can be beneficial to heart health,’ says director of Hearty Nutrition and member of the Dietitians Association of Australia, Joel Feren. ‘Studies show that it can improve vascular health – the state of our blood vessels.’

Researchers are divided on the topic. Red wine contains antioxidants and resveratrol, a chemical that may prevent damage to blood vessels and lower ‘bad’ cholesterol. Resveratrol is found in the skin of grapes, so red wine (which is fermented with the skin on for longer) has more of it than white.

But while some research suggests red wine can be beneficial when it comes to stopping weight gain and even preventing cancer, the UK government has recently performed a U-turn on its stance on red wine (and alcohol in general), underlining its threat to our health. Under new guidelines, drinkers are recommended to take a two-day break each week to let their livers recover.

‘A little bit has some health benefits,’ says Joel, ‘but too much is going to potentially cause heart disease, can cause issues with mental illness, and can even cause high blood pressure. ‘The recommendation [in Australia] at the moment is no more than two standard drinks per day if you do choose to drink alcohol.’

But contrary to what the Brits are saying, a Harvard study concluded that having up to six alcoholic drinks a week doesn’t, in fact, pose a long-term risk of heart attack or stroke. “What we’re dealing with at the moment is that we know there is some benefit,’ says Joel, ‘but there’s more research to be done until we can say, “Yes this is a fantastic thing that we all should be having in our diets.”’

So why don’t we have a definitive stance on red wine? After all, it would be much easier to control or limit our intake if we really knew where we stood.

Joel explains that current studies tend to be epidemiological studies. In these kinds of studies, researchers can make comparisons between people who drink occasionally, regularly and those who drink heavily. By looking at a population group like this, they can come to conclusions about our drinking habits and the effect they have on our health, but other kinds of studies could yield more specific results.

‘It’s very hard to do what we call a “randomised control trial”’, he says. ‘You’d have to control for exercise and every other aspect of their diet, and then solely manipulate their alcohol intake to actually identify whether the variable you’re manipulating is having an effect.’

Because of these difficulties, most studies are carried out on animals, using doses much larger than those recommended for people. This means a definitive conclusion isn’t on the horizon. In the meantime, if we do drink red wine, how can we incorporate this habit into our healthy lifestyle in a thoughtful way?

Researchers, medics and the government are all in agreement on one thing: it all comes down to how much you drink. One tip for keeping it moderate, says Joel, is to be present in the act.

‘One thing that I talk about with my patients is mindfulness. If you are going to drink, be in the moment, be present and really enjoy it.

‘So many times, if you’re sitting in front of a movie and you’re drinking wine, you don’t even notice it. You do it mindlessly. You don’t pick up on the different notes of the wine, or the different flavours, or the taste.

‘So if you are going to drink it, certainly allow yourself to drink it and be in the moment to enjoy it.’

Advice across the board seems to be that if you’re going to drink wine, enjoy a glass and not the bottle.

So what are the real benefits of drinking red wine? For now, it’s subjective.

Studies show there are tangible health benefits, but until more research is competed, we’ll take “health benefits” to mean the pleasure of sharing a glass with a friend. After all, we’re firm believers that with moderation in mind, a little bit of what you like does you good.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances 

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.