We all have heard about Resveratrol, the ingredient in red wine that has many health benefits, and that makes imbibing in a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon a healthy choice. But there’s also evidence that white wine and even champagne can have health benefits too! They, like red wine, have another magic ingredient, Flavonoids, which can boost your health too.
I do not want to make you feel like you are suffering through high school chemistry class again, but let’s just say that Flavonoids are a group of polyphenols. However, not all polyphenols are flavonoids.
Here is a little description of polyphenols:
Polyphenols are phytochemicals that make up the colorful plant pigmentation to protect plants against UV radiation and viruses. In wine grapes, this is found in the skins, and we can see that in black grapes especially. Plants make these chemicals to protect themselves from things like sun damage and viruses. Flavonoids are a class of polyphenol that have benefits to humans when they consume them, and that includes drinking wine.
What are Flavonoids?
Flavonoids include the anthocyanins and tannins which contribute to the color and mouthfeel of wine. Flavonoids are antioxidants found in red and white wine and can help prevent cancer. The most important flavonoids in white wine are tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, which have been shown to decrease the risk of developing certain cancers. Red wine is known for resveratrol, and vital component that has health benefits.
What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in the skin of black grapes used to make red or rose wine. Resveratrol can do a lot…it is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing compound. Specifically, it can protect against free radical damage, a leading cause of ageing, especially the skin. There’s medical evidence that resveratrol can help prevent heart attacks, prevent damage to blood vessels, decrease the amount of LDL cholesterol and decrease the chances of blood clotting. Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce pain and help improve certain chronic conditions like rosacea and eczema.
It has many other benefits: it activates the longevity-related protein sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), helps to improve insulin sensitivity, and improves the function of the mitochondria, which can help against aging and disease.
Another benefit of red wine
I recently read in the Drinks Business, a UK trade magazine, “Lamuela-Raventós, who is a professor at the Barcelona University’s Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, told db last year that moderate wine consumption is not correlated with weight gain, while revealing new evidence to show that red wine can help you to burn calories in food when drunk during meals, while offering a range of health benefits too.”
Sounds pretty good to me!
Which wines have the most benefits?
According to a study from the University of Barcelona, white wines may have a higher antioxidant capacity than red wines! While we might think we need to stick with red wine for health benefits, the polyphenols found in white wines have been shown to have a higher capacity for antioxidants per serving. So white, red and rose wines all can provide some of these components.
Red wine:
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Tannat
White wine:
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Silvaner (this is a tough one to find outside of Europe)
What about the bubbly?
If you are looking to cut calories in your wine consumption, champagne has lower calories than red and white wine. Like red and white wines, champagne has heart-healthy properties, as discovered in a recent University of Reading (U.K.) study. Researchers found that, like red wine, dally moderate consumption of champagne may improve vascular performance.
There is also evidence that three glasses a week of bubbly after the age of forty could help prevent brain disorders, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This same study found that black grape varieties used in champagne can aid memory via a compound called phenolic acid.
(Mona, I know that made you really happy!)
So, while you focus on improving your health, as well all do this time of year, think about the benefits these wonderful beverages can provide while we reap the mental health benefits of enjoying (moderately) this magical combination of nature and man’s craft in a bottle.
Cheers!
Note: Thanks to the woman at the BIPOC event who suggested this article topic. I’ve found a lot of great information online and hope that I can find even more about wine’s benefits for future blog posts.
