5 Ways Red Wine Keeps You Healthy

Most of us enjoy kicking back after work with a glass of red wine in hand.  The best part is that your red-wine habit also happens to come with some happy health benefits, such as protecting your heart and slimming your waistline.

Here are 5 reasons why winding down with a glass of vino is a good call all around.

Lower your cholesterol

High-fibre red wine grapes may actually have a significant effect on cholesterol levels. A study showed that healthy participants who consumed the same grape supplement found in red wine saw their LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” levels decrease by 9% among healthy. Participants with high cholesterol experienced a drop of 12%.

Protect your heart

Antioxidants in red wine can help keep blood vessels flexible and reduce the risk of unwanted clotting. It’s nearly as effective as aspirin. But as with most things, moderation is key.

Boost your brain

Resveratrol can be the key to keeping your memory sharp. The compound has been shown to hamper the formation of beta-amyloid protein, a key ingredient in the plaque found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Flex your noodle by doing classic cat puzzles and brain teasers for an hour, then cooling down with a glass of wine.

Fight off a cold

The antioxidants in red wine may help keep you healthy. Antioxidants are believed to fight infection and protect cells against the effects of free radicals, which may play role in cancer and other diseases. Studies seem to show that 2 glasses of red wine can help you beat the flu.

Get slim

Apart from resveratrol, the chemical compound our bodies convert from resveratrol deserves some credit. This compound was shown to actually prevent the growth of fat cells in a series of lab tests. How? Researchers say that piceatannol binds to the insulin receptors of fat cells, essentially blocking the pathways necessary for immature fat cells to mature and grow.