How Much Wine Per Week is Healthy?
EducationHow Much Wine Per Week is Healthy?
Drinking wine is healthy according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; establishing the standard. According to these offices, one drink a day for most women and no more than two drinks a day for most men. One drink is 5 ounces containing approximately 12 grams of alcohol and 120 calories.
Drinking wine has a few health benefits for healthy individuals. It may also have some potential risks due to existing health conditions for others. When it comes to defining healthy wine drinking, there is no fixed amount of healthy wine drinking that fits every person, since each person may have particular circumstances.
Direct results of drinking wine is due to the differences between men and women’s body chemistries. In this case, women have more body fat and less body water than men. And since alcohol is soluble in water more so than it is in fat, drinks become more concentrated in a woman’s body compared to a man’s. However, as men and women age and their body fat content changes; one drink per day is the recommended serving for all.
Is drinking wine wine good for you? The answer is yes, when drinking wine is done in moderation and as part of an overall healthy diet.
Benefits of Drinking Wine
Drinking wine can be a defense against coronary artery disease for healthy individuals, as evidence does show that low levels of drinking wine can decrease the risk of coronary artery disease in both men and women. This is because wine reduces the risk of blood clots in coronary arteries that lead to coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Other health benefits when drinking wine according to medical studies is that wine raises the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL is the good cholesterol. It also reduces the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, as you age. Last but not least, Psychologically drinking wine reduces stress, tension and anxiety making most indivduals a little happier.
Red and White Wines
Drinking red wine is the better choice of drinks because it contains antioxidants known as resveratrol, which is contained in the skin of the grape. Red wines have more resveratrol than white wines because the red grapes are crushed with the skins, whereas, white wines have the skins removed prior to fermentation, during the wine making process. Health considerations since grapes contain sugar; drinking an excess of wine can affect insulin and blood sugar levels.
When it comes your health always check with a professional before making changing. Remember that excessive wine drinking may cause long-term health conditions and has been known to develop serious health risks.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Biochemistry & Behavior