Can a Glass of Wine Benefit Your Health?

There are several benefits to drinking a glass of wine.

Rich in antioxidants

There are many antioxidant-rich foods and beverages, and wine is one of them.

Antioxidants are compounds that prevent cellular damage caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a condition caused by an imbalance between antioxidants and unstable molecules called free radicals, which can damage your cells (2Trusted Source).

Grapes have high levels of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation (3Trusted Source).

Because red wine grapes are higher in antioxidants than white grape varieties, drinking red wine may increase your blood antioxidant levels to a greater extent than drinking white (4Trusted Source).

In fact, one 2-week study in 40 adults found that consuming 13.5 ounces (400 ml) of red wine daily increased antioxidant status (2Trusted Source).

Higher antioxidant status is associated with a decreased risk of disease. For example, drinking red wine has been associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which are associated with oxidative stress (3Trusted Source).

May help combat inflammation

Wine contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties.

Chronic inflammation is harmful and may increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and certain cancers. Therefore, it’s best to prevent this type of inflammation as much as possible (5Trusted Source).

Chronic inflammation can be reduced through diet, stress reduction, and exercise.

Many foods have the power to reduce inflammation, and wine is thought to be one of them.

Studies suggest that a compound called resveratrol in wine has anti-inflammatory properties and may benefit health (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

One study in 4,461 adults demonstrated that moderate consumption of wine was linked to a reduced inflammatory response (7Trusted Source).

Participants in this study self-reported their alcohol intake. Those who consumed up to 1.4 ounces (40 grams) of alcohol per day experienced less inflammation than those who didn’t drink (7Trusted Source).

What’s more, in a study including 2,900 women, those who consumed a glass of wine daily had significantly reduced inflammatory markers compared with women who abstained from alcohol (8Trusted Source).

On the other hand, other research has found red wine to have a less dramatic effect.

A study in 87 adults of an average age of 50 found that drinking 5 ounces (150 ml) of red wine daily caused only slight reductions in inflammatory markers compared with abstaining from alcohol (9Trusted Source).

Although the research is promising, more studies are needed to better understand the anti-inflammatory benefits of wine.

May benefit heart health

Studies show that individuals who consume moderate amounts of wine have reduced rates of heart disease (10Trusted Source).

Researchers believe that red wine’s high concentration of polyphenol antioxidants can help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic diseases (11Trusted Source).

Some research suggests that drinking red wine may reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of heart disease (12Trusted Source).

Yet, other studies suggest that a daily glass of red wine does not reduce blood pressure in people with normal blood pressure or those who already have heart disease (13Trusted Source).

What’s more, wine may interact with medication that lowers blood pressure (14Trusted Source).

Furthermore, excessive alcohol consumption may have negative effects on heart health, including increased blood pressure and a higher risk of developing heart disease (15Trusted Source).

Whether moderate wine intake benefits heart health is up for debate as research in this area continues (16Trusted Source).

Other benefits

Drinking wine in moderation may also have other benefits:

• May benefit mental health. An occasional glass of wine may reduce the risk of depression. However, excessive drinking can have the opposite effect, putting you at a higher risk of this condition (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
• May promote longevity. Studies have found that drinking moderate amounts of wine as part of a healthy diet may increase longevity thanks to wine’s high antioxidant content (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
• May promote healthy gut bacteria. Recent studies have even suggested that red wine may promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which may improve metabolic syndrome markers in people with obesity (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).