The truth behind drinking red wine

We’ve seen the headlines around our favourite vices: coffee contains antioxidants, dark chocolate is good for us, and red wine may help 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 warm up on a chilly night than on the couch with a glass of red wine?

It’s a pleasure that many of us enjoy, but it doesn’t come without health warnings. So when we dedicate so much of our time to keeping fit and healthy, is a glass of Pinot helping us, or hindering?

Let’s pour out a few facts.

“There’s certainly some evidence suggesting that a small amount of red wine can be beneficial to heart health,” says Joel Feren of The Nutrition Guy. “Studies show that it may 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) contains more of it than white.

While some research suggests small amounts of red wine may prevent some cancers, the Australian government recommends healthy adults consume fewer than 10 standard drinks per week, and no more than four in any one day. If you’re curious about what a standard drink looks like – the government has a page to help you visualise quantities of common alcoholic beverages. 

“A little bit has some health benefits,” says Joel, “but too much may potentially cause heart disease, issues with mental illness, and even high blood pressure.”

So why isn’t there a definitive stance on red wine?

Joel explains that current research tends to be epidemiological. 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 manipulate their alcohol intake to 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 agree 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 present and really enjoy it. So many times, if you’re sitting in front of a movie with a glass of wine, you drink 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, be in the moment to really enjoy it.”

And if you’re going to have a drink, enjoy a glass and not the bottle.

For now, the real benefits of drinking red wine are 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. 

If you’re interested in what kind of impact alcohol consumption is having on your health and wellbeing (among many other factors), discover your AIA Vitality Age.

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