We’ve all heard the line that a glass or two of red wine a day helps heart health. But how true is this actual theory? Of course, just like anything you must take this in moderation, and an entire bottle of red wine can actually be detrimental to your health. But what are some of substances in red wine that cause it to be good for your heart? According to various health officials, elements such as antioxidants could potentially prevent heart disease. It prevents heart disease by increasing levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as protecting against artery damage.
Just like bacteria, you have good and bad cholesterol. The bad cholesterol that we all know and all familiar with is called low density lipoprotein (also known as LDL). LDL is responsible and contributes to clogged arteries due to hard deposits known as plaque making it less flexible. If the plaque becomes too strong, it can form a clot and block an artery possible causing a stroke or heart attack. On the other end of the spectrum the other less generally known “good cholesterol” is high density lipoprotein (also known as HDL). HDL is considered “good” because it contributes to the removal of the LDL cholesterol from arteries. HDL can act as an agent that carries LDL away from arteries to liver to be broken down and passed through the body.
So how exactly is red wine heart healthy? Red wine seems to have more heart-healthy benefits than other types of alcohol. Antioxidants called polyphenols that are present in red wine assist in protecting the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Most notably, the polyphenol most known is called resveratrol. According to health officials, resveratrol can quite possibly be the key ingredient in red wine that aids in preventing damage to blood vessels by reducing LDL cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Further research shows that resveratrol could be linked to the reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting which are leading factors to heart disease. But one important thing to note is that the effects of resveratrol only lasts a short time after drinking red wine. So further research is needed to get the full picture of what exactly the effects of resveratrol can be.
All in all, it is generally noted that a glass of red wine can be beneficial to your health as well as your heart. Of course, always take things in moderation.