Moderate wine consumption may benefit your cardiac health, but foods such as grapes and berries offer similar advantages without the negative effects
“People shouldn’t think that drinking wine is good for you,” says Dr Oliver Guttmann, a consultant cardiologist at the Wellington hospital in London.
Alcohol consumption is linked to high blood pressure, liver disease, digestive, mental health and immune system problems, as well as cancer.
That said, studies have shown that moderate wine consumption could have some small benefits for your heart, says Guttmann.
They show that wine can help reduce “bad” cholesterol – which may lower the risk of heart disease, kidney problems and stroke. That’s thanks to compounds that have vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory effects, helping blood vessels stay open and flexible. Red wine also contains antioxidants such as resveratrol, found in the skin of grapes, which may further support heart health.
