Does Lower Alcohol Content Mean It`s Less Heart-Healthy?

Red wine is one of those rare foods that’s both enjoyed by people for its gastronomical delights and touted by the medical community as a heart-healthy food. 

The only other food that seems to come close to balancing sheer enjoyment of taste with protection against heart disease is chocolate. And, in fact, red wine and chocolate have one key nutrient in common: antioxidants. Dark chocolate is full of two flavonoids called “epicatechin” and “catechin.” In red wine, the primary antioxidant is “resveratrol.”

Although rarely mentioned, many people find it difficult to benefit from the health-boosting effects of red wine, because they can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol. For those who are diabetic or have problems with their kidneys or liver, drinking alcohol can be particularly problematic.

Well, here’s some good news from researchers at the University of Cape Town in South Africa: red wine with a lower alcohol content may be just as beneficial for you. After noting that many studies suggest that regular and moderate consumption of red wine benefits cardiovascular health, the researchers devised a study. They wanted to know how the antioxidant and cardio-protective properties of a French red wine (cabernet sauvignon, 12% alcohol by volume) compared with those of the same wine subjected to reverse osmosis for partial removal of alcohol (six percent alcohol by volume).

Still, the key is moderation. Do not drink too much too frequently, or you might need to check into New York alcohol addiction recovery centers or any treatment programs in the future.


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