10 Ways Drinking Wine May Be Saving Your Life

Emily Lockhart

Published on November 1, 2013 Updated on April 27, 2018

Cheers to the fact that drinking wine is good for your health.

Scientific studies well document the fact that swilling a glass or two of wine is good for your health in many ways—including reducing the risks of heart disease, certain cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, keep in mind that it’s all about how much you drink that can make or break that bottle. And overdoing it can transform that healthy glass of vino into a bad habit with poor health consequences.

So raise a glass, fellow wine lovers! Here are ten ways that wine may be saving your life…

1. Wine Wards Off the Flu

Did you know that a hearty glass of red wine actually doubles as cough syrup? Well, not really, but scientific studies link moderate weekly wine drinking (that’s a glass or 2 a day, tops), strengthens your immunity and lessens your chances of catching a cold or influenza.

2. Protects the Brain From Age-Related Decline

While drinking too much wine might make you forget yourself, drinking a few glasses a day in moderation will actually boost brain activity and protect you from age-related decline, including conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Boosts Bone Density in Women

Women with a family history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis listen up. A Swedish study reported that drinking an average of 10 glasses of red vino per week reduced the risk of osteoporosis and arthritis by about 50-percent due to the fact that wine strengthens bone density.

4. Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

It’s widely proved that moderate red wine drinking is good for the ol’ ticker, but do you know why? The vintage actually boosts your good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and thins your blood, encouraging blood circulation and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

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5. Prevents Type 2 Diabetes

Another health benefit of red wine is that each glass is jam-packed with triglycerides, a healthy fat found in your blood stream that can reduce your changes of developing type 2 diabetes. The catch is that drinking too much wine will do the opposite—raise triglyceride levels so high, leaving your prone to heart problems and diabetes.

6. Protects the Throat Against Certain Cancers

Red wine in your gullet actually does a good job of reducing your risk of certain throat cancer—of the larynx and esophagus. Studies show that red wine, in particular, contains high levels of beneficial antioxidants and minerals.

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7. A Rich Source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

You already know that omega 3 fatty acids provide the body with health fats and ward off cardiovascular disease. However, studies have linked the high levels of fatty acids in a daily glass of red wine (more more) to lessening mania and depression in patients with bipolar disorder.

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8. Reduces High Cholesterol

It’s the grapes in red wine, packed with disease fighting fiber and antioxidants, which are touted for reducing dangerously high cholesterol. That means, if you drink any other type of alcohol, you should swap it for a daily glass of two of red wine, particularly Tempranillo vintages.

9. Wine Keeps You Alert

Forget the coffee; poor yourself a glass of wine to shake off the mid-afternoon sleepies. Studies link the melatonin hormone, found in wine making grapes, to creating heightened levels of energy.

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10. Optimizes Metabolism

Not that we’re suggesting you drink before working out, but a daily glass of wine with dinner will cause blood vessels to expand and carry over into your day, stimulating the heart and metabolism before your workouts.

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Emily Lockhart

Emily Lockhart is a weight loss expert who specializes in healthy living. She is dedicated to providing health-conscious individuals with the information they need to make great lifestyle choices that will make them look and feel better. In her spare time, Emily teaches Pilates at a local studio and enjoys activities like hiking, rowing and biking.