Experts still don’t know if red wine is good for you or not, but here’s what we DO know
By Meg Dowell
Sometimes, two studies on the health benefits of wine seem to say completely different things. Here’s what we do know about red wine and your health.
Health research isn’t just confusing because of all the medical jargon in every report. Sometimes, when study results and expert opinions conflict from publication to publication, it’s hard to know what to believe to be true — and even harder to know how to apply this knowledge to your everyday life.
When it comes to drinking alcohol, red wine in particular, most people already know too much is “bad” and none is “good.” But when people see health benefits associated with something they already eat or drink, many are convinced to continue or even increase their consumption to reap “more” of these benefits. (That’s not really how it works, in case you were wondering).
Making things more confusing, is the fact that red wine is neither good or bad, at least in the sense that having it or not having it will guarantee one outcome or the other.
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One important thing to know, for starters, is this: Red wine can provide health benefits to certain people due to the properties of some of its ingredients. But in some cases, it also has the potential to contribute to negative health outcomes.
If you go deep enough, this is pretty much the case with any food or beverage you might encounter in your everyday life. Cheese, for example, is high in protein, which is an important component of any human diet. But if you eat too much of it, the excess calories can contribute to unwanted weight gain and related health outcomes.
So when you read that red wine can contribute to prolonged heart health, there is some truth to this fact — as well as the fact that too much alcohol can increase your risk of heart disease.
You have to be careful when interpreting what certain studies on wine might suggest, though. So far, there is no study that definitely concludes red wine is good or bad for you. These kinds of studies are complicated at all angles in part because it’s almost impossible to link one behavior to a single health outcome.
Even when study results point to a possible relationship between red wine and good health, for example, it is impossible to tell whether or not perceived health benefits are related to the wine, other lifestyle factors, or both.
One study participant may have improved heart health after cutting back on their intake of red wine. But the study might not mention this same participant started exercising regularly and cut back on their saturated fat intake along with adjusting their red wine consumption. You can’t always know for sure which habit might be contributing to which result.
While there are some situations in which doctors and nutrition experts will strongly recommend an individual should avoid alcohol, a doctor won’t ever tell you to drink more wine to be healthier — they will always side with the research, which seems to conclude that technically, zero alcohol is always the best possible option if you are concerned with your health.
But if giving up red wine isn’t something you’re into, and no one has told you that you have to, you can still make it a regular part of your life without putting yourself in severe harm’s way.
The general consensus. according to health experts, is this: drink if you want to, but drink responsibly. “In moderation” isn’t just a phrase meant to force you into a guessing game. Too much of anything won’t turn out in your favor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take part in something you enjoy because excess can hurt you.
Guidelines agree that one glass of red wine per day for women and two per day for men is the moderate standard. So if having a glass of wine with dinner helps you wind down and enjoy your meal, feel free to indulge.
Have fun, but stay safe, this season. Celebrate with caution, and enjoy your time with the people close to you. Happy holidays!
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Do your drinking habits change as recommendations are updated, or do you have your own set of rules when it comes to alcohol?