It’s widely acknowledged that red wine has more resveratrol than white wine. But what does this mean for the health of those who drink it? Is drinking red wine bad for you?
Let’s look at the evidence and see if it’s really as dangerous as we thought. Red Wine & The Health Risk If you look closer, you will see that the color of the wine is actually not so simple.
There are different varieties of grape that produce wines with a high concentration of resveratrol, which is a potent antioxidant found in grape skins. Red wine has more resveratrol than white wine.
However, the concentration of resveratrol in red wine is very low compared to the amount found in red grapes. This means that the amount of resveratrol in a glass of red wine is only about 1-2% as much as you would find in a glass of white wine.
So, a large glass of red wine can have far less resveratrol than a small glass of white wine. Also, there’s a lot more alcohol in red wine than white wine. Red wine contains 15-20% alcohol by volume.
White wine contains 10-15% alcohol by volume. That means that a large glass of red wine will contain much less resveratrol than a small glass of white wine.
So, how is it that drinking red wine can promote health?
Well, it seems to work by providing the body with antioxidants that are beneficial to health and well-being in several different ways:
1) Increasing HDL Cholesterol levels (high density lipoprotein or “good” cholesterol)
2) Helping to prevent atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries)
3) Preventing cell damage
4) Protecting against cancer
5) Reducing the risk of heart disease
6) Promoting weight loss
7) Preventing age-related diseases
8) Promoting healthy aging.
Resveratrol & The Health Risk
A little more about Resveratrol: Resveratrol is an antioxidant found naturally in red grapes and other foods such as peanuts and berries (the same antioxidant that was discovered by Dr. Robert Lustig).
It has been studied extensively since it was first discovered because it has many potential benefits, such as anti-aging properties, and it has been shown to help prevent various types of cancer, such as colon cancer (as well as heart disease), but there isn’t enough evidence yet to show if it can prevent all types of cancers or if it can be used to treat them.
This is because it is both a chemical and a biological molecule and there are many things that can affect the ability to study it. Resveratrol is also being studied for its effects on obesity, bone health, and brain function.
What do I need to know?
Resveratrol will not prevent or treat cancer. Resveratrol may help reduce the risk of some cancers, but there isn’t enough evidence yet to determine if it can prevent all types of cancer or if it can be used to treat them.
Resveratrol is only found in foods in small amounts (about 1-2% of the amount found in red wine), so a large glass of wine won’t have much resveratrol compared to a small glass of wine. It’s also important to note that resveratrol may not work for everyone since there are many factors that affect how well it works for you.
This includes your genes, your diet, your disease risk (such as if you have colon cancer), and other factors like age, sex, weight, and medication use. So don’t expect resveratrol to prevent or treat cancer just because you take this supplement!
Resveratrol & Heart Health
A little more about Resveratrol: A few studies have shown that resveratrol might help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels (even though some studies show no effect). Since we still don’t know what
What’s the difference between red wine and white wine?
There are multiple varieties of grapes that produce red wine and white wine. Red grapes produce a high concentration of resveratrol, while white grape varieties tend to have less. Red wine is also known as brandy, and white wine is typically dessert or fortified wine.
When it comes to the health effects of drinking red wine or brandy, there are actually very few differences between the two. Both types of wine have the same number of antioxidants, phytochemicals, and vitamins as white wine.
The only difference is that red wine has higher levels of anthocyanin, the blue-colored pigment found in blueberries, and other blue-colored fruits and vegetables.
The Health Benefits of Wine
Consuming moderate amounts of red wine is probably fine for most people. Consuming moderate amounts of white wine is probably not harmful, as long as you drink it with food, as opposed to drinking it alone. But what if I told you there were health benefits to drinking red wine and white wine together?
Here are a few things to consider:
- Both varieties of grape are rich in antioxidants.
- Both types of grapes are high in fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- So, drinking red wine and eating blueberries probably come together synergistically to provide the health benefits of both!
Is Drinking Wine Dangerous?
The main difference between red wine and white wine is color. Red wine is not only redder than white wine, but it has more color because of the concentration of antioxidants found in the skin.
While drinking red wine could catch you off-guard with its unexpected color, it’s not unexpected in moderation. And for those who are sensitive to the color of wine, this is a non-issue. It is safe to drink red wine with food, and it is safe to drink white wine without food.
Which Wine Has More Benefits?
There is no clear-cut answer to this question. Some say the best choice is between white and red wine, while others recommend pairing red wine with strong flavors such as nuts and cheese while pairing white wine with more subtle flavors such as berries and honey.
The truth is that pairing is more important than ever when it comes to learning how to maximize the health benefits of wine. Many find that pairing red wine with poultry and other spicy flavors works well together while pairing white wine with more sweet flavors makes for a more balanced drink.
There is no clear-cut answer!
The truth is that there is no clear-cut answer when it comes to pairing alcohol with health benefits. All you can do is try different combinations and see what happens.
The only way to know for sure is to drink a lot of both types of wine and record the results in a journal. You can also try making your own drinks using ingredients from both types of wine.
For example, you can make a white wine and berry beverage using white wine, blueberries and raspberries. Or you can make a red wine and nut beverage using red wine, walnuts and almonds.
There are many different types of alcohol. Alcohol is the substance in alcoholic drinks that makes them intoxicating. Alcohol has a variety of effects when consumed, depending on the type of alcohol it is:
Alcohol has a large number of health benefits, including:
Alcohol is produced by fermentation (or distillation). Fermentation transforms sugar into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This process produces two main kinds of alcohol: ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) and carbon dioxide (also known as carbonic acid). Ethanol is also called “drinking alcohol” because it is usually ingested with food or drink.
Carbon dioxide is released during fermentation, but it can be removed from the resulting beverage through distillation. Distillation removes residual water from the beverage so that its concentration becomes higher than ethanol alone.
A distilled beverage has an ethanol concentration of over 95% because it contains only about 5% water, which evaporates during brewing or distillation.
The resulting beverage is called “ethanolic” because it contains ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in a much greater concentration than pure water alone would have contained under similar conditions. The percentage of water in an eau de vie or eau de cologne (ethanolic essence) depends on such factors as the type of fruit.
Bottom Line
Be careful when pairing red wine and white cheese; it could lead to something called the “cream cheese blues” or “red wine and cheese high.”
Instead, pair red wine with strong flavors such as nuts and cheese, while pairing white wine with more subtle flavors such as berries and honey. You will be amazed at how much difference this makes to your health.