Wine and a Healthy Lifestyle

Many studies have shown that moderate consumption of wine is actually good for your health. One study, involving 8,000 people over 10 years, showed that people who drink one or two glasses of wine per day live longer and are less likely to die from all causes than either abstainers or heavy drinkers.

A well-documented paradox is that in France, where per capita consumption of wine and foods high in saturated fat is high, incidence of coronary heart disease is relatively low. Researchers have discovered that one reason is the presence of phenolic compounds in wine, especially red wine. Studies show that these compounds have the ability to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, while elevating HDL ("good") cholesterol.

Historically, wine has been recommended by doctors to help absorption of minerals, aid in digestion, and reduce the incidence of sleep disorders. Now, scientific researchers have repeatedly found that moderate wine drinkers have a lower risk of death from all causes, including cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancers.