Is wine healthy or unhealthy?

Is wine healthy or unhealthy?

Wine is more than just a drink, it is a cultural asset that for many people is a symbol of enjoyment and a way of life. But is wine healthy or unhealthy?

The dangers of the alcohol it contains are often ignored, as red wine in particular is considered by many to be good for your health. However, this is not true across the board, which is why you should carefully weigh up for yourself whether and how much wine you drink.

Positive aspects of enjoying wine

Numerous studies have shown that some of the substances contained in wine can actually have a positive effect on health. Tannins play a special role here, which are found mainly in larger amounts in red wine. These tannins, which belong to the phenols, can sustainably reduce harmful blood fats and, thanks to their antioxidant effect, simultaneously help prevent arteriosclerosis, according to the wine portal. In combination with alcohol, they also cause the blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure. By reducing the risk of thrombosis, possible follow-on diseases such as strokes and heart attacks are also prevented. Together with a healthy and varied diet and balanced training, wine in very(!) moderate amounts is therefore definitely worth recommending.

Do not neglect the amount of alcohol

However, wine drinkers should never forget that consuming alcohol can of course have many negative effects. Anyone who regularly drinks larger amounts of wine must expect their health to suffer as a result. As the amount of alcohol increases, so does the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, inflammation of the pancreas and liver, or cancer. Disorders of the hormone balance, neurological problems or gout can also occur. With permanently excessive alcohol consumption, cirrhosis of the liver can even develop and make a liver transplant necessary.

For this reason, the World Health Organization recommends drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages only in very small amounts. For men, the guideline value is twenty grams of pure alcohol per day, while women should consume only ten grams. That corresponds to a quarter litre or an eighth of a litre of wine per day. And according to the latest studies, even this could already be too much. Taking into account individual health status and possible personal health risks, however, there is nothing wrong with occasionally treating yourself to a good glass of wine. Buying wine by the case or regularly emptying one or even several bottles of the fine drop in one go, however, is anything but recommendable.

So enjoy your glass of wine, but stick to one glass.