On the terrace, preferably opt for red wine

As the days get longer, the Euro football and music festivals begin to punctuate our evenings and the curfew recedes, the French can finally meet on the terrace or at home on time. of the aperitif. What to drink to celebrate all this? According to several scientific studies, in reasonable quantities, red wine turns out to be the most beneficial for health. Decryption.

How is it that the French, who nevertheless have cholesterol levels identical to those of inhabitants of other industrialized countries, remain much less likely to be victims of heart attacks? How does the high consumption of animal fats, tobacco and salt in France not further increase this risk? According to numerous scientific studies, the fact of drinking wine – moderately – could play a significant role in this surprising phenomenon. But not just any wine. If you are tempted by a glass of rosé or white, we recommend that you opt for red instead. Here’s why.

Red wine, a cardiovascular protective effect?

According to a study published by the American Institute of Health in 2014 conducted among 6,514 women aged 50 to 69, women consuming about 20 cl of red wine (or one or two glasses of wine) per day had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease compared to non-drinkers or drinkers of other alcohol. Another study conducted by the American Center for Biotechnology Information on 129,000 adults in 2015 also confirms that regular drinkers of red wine, including men, have a lower risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease compared to other alcohol drinkers. . The reason ? The presence of polyphenols, substances found in plants and fruits that make red wine a powerful antioxidant that slows down cell aging and helps prevent cardiovascular disease. Cosmetics do not hesitate to use antioxidants in their anti-aging products. According to a survey published by American Institute of Health in 2016, the presence of resveratrol – an antioxidant almost absent from white wine and entirely from beer – would have particularly important health benefits: by neutralizing free oxygen radicals, it helps fight various age-related diseases , such as lung cancer. In other words, these phenolic compounds present in red wine could decrease the aggregation of blood platelets and therefore the occurrence of heart diseases such as infarction.

Red wine, a friend of the digestive system?

According to a study published by the American Institute of Health in 2014, moderate consumption of red wine, due to its antioxidant powers, would help reduce the risk of Barrett’s esophagus, a disease caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. In addition, the polyphenols present in wine can prevent inflammatory diseases of the colon and small intestine. Drinking one to two glasses of red wine a day also promotes the development of certain good bacteria favorable to the well-being of the digestive system. Knowing that colorectal cancers (affecting the colon or rectum) are among the most common cancers in France, what better way than to take precautions by drinking red wine… always in moderation of course.

Read also : Why can coffee be a “healthy food”?

Drinking red wine to reduce the risk of diabetes

Polyphenols also have the effect of protecting against type 2 diabetes according to a study of the American Institute of Health conducted among 101 alcohol drinkers and 104 non-drinkers in 2014. The study concludes that regular drinkers of red wine, that is to say those who drink a maximum of 30 ml of alcohol per day, show a decrease in glucose levels and the incidence of diabetes compared to non-drinkers.

What about red wine without alcohol?

Can’t stand alcoholic drinks? Rest assured, alcohol-free red wine contains an equivalent level of benevolent polyphenols as classic red wine.

What about biodynamics?

In viticulture, biodynamics means that production is carried out without synthetic chemicals neither before nor after harvest and by limiting the use of sulfur and copper-metal, a practice beneficial for the health of consumers and for the environment.

Moderation is key

Consumed in moderation, red wine is beneficial to health. It is recommended to limit yourself to 1 to 2 glasses per day – at most – in order to avoid adverse health effects such as liver damage, headaches, insomnia and related addiction phenomena. alcoholism. It is better not to drink on a daily basis and, above all, to avoid excessive concentrated intakes only on weekends, for example. Alcohol intake should remain punctual.

See also: Our tips for organizing a (a little more) green aperitif

Juliette Barlier

Web editor for AuFeminin since January 2021, Juliette comes directly from California and writes on subjects related to culture, astrology, and plants from an angle …