Alcoholic beverages, including wine, are known to have various benefits. One of the health benefits of wine is preventing heart disease. However, you still have to be aware of the risks that can be caused when consuming wine in excess.
Wine is the result of fermentation of fruit, such as red wine, that has been crushed. The alcohol content in wine generally ranges from 12-15%. This type of alcoholic beverage is known to be high in antioxidants so it is believed to provide health benefits.
However, the benefits of this wine can only be felt if consumed in the right amount. The recommended limit for wine consumption is 1 glass per day or about 150 ml.
Benefits of Wine for Health
Apart from the negative effects, wine can provide various health benefits, including:
Maintain heart health
Wine is known to contain the antioxidant resveratrol which is believed to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. This type of antioxidant is usually found in the skin of grapes and some other plants.
However, consuming wine is not the only recommended way to maintain heart health. You still have to live a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious foods, not smoking, and maintaining an ideal body weight to avoid heart disease.
Increase levels of good cholesterol in the blood
Alcoholic beverages are known to affect cholesterol levels in the body. A study showed that consuming wine can reduce up to 50% levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood.
Reduce depression and anxiety
Consuming wine is known to be beneficial for mental health, such as reducing depression and anxiety. To get these benefits, the recommended limit for wine consumption is 1 glass per day. If more than that, wine consumption can actually have a bad impact on mental health.
In addition, there are various other benefits of wine, such as lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, reducing insulin resistance, and increasing the good bacteria in the gut.
However, the benefits of this wine do not necessarily make alcoholic beverages good for health. Keep living a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep to get a healthy body.
The Risks of Consuming Wine for Health
If consumed in excessive amounts, wine can be harmful to health. The following are health problems that can result from consuming wine in excess:
- Cancer diseases, including breast cancer, oral cancer, and liver cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Damage to the heart muscle leading to heart failure
- stroke
- High blood pressure
- Brain damage and defects in the fetus
- Alcohol addiction
In addition, excessive consumption of wine can also inhibit the absorption of folic acid in the body and reduce bone density thereby increasing the risk of fractures.
If you are taking certain drugs, you should avoid consuming wine. This is because the alcohol content in wine can cause harmful interactions with a number of drugs, including paracetamol, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, as well as painkillers and sedatives.
Although the benefits of wine for health are quite diverse, consumption of alcoholic beverages, including beer and rum, must still be done wisely. If excessive, the risk of health problems will be much more dangerous.
If you experience certain complaints after consuming wine, immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will provide treatment to overcome the complaints you feel and suggestions regarding limits for wine consumption according to your condition.