How healthy is a glass of red wine really?

Red wine – a health myth?

Current studies on the protective effects of alcohol consumption offer contradictory results. Italian scientists evaluated 34 studies on the influence of alcohol on life expectancy and found that people who moderately consumed alcohol, in average, lived longer. The data nevertheless, didn’t offer any decisive statements about the alcohol’s actual effect on the patients’ health. The study ‘In Vino Veritas’ even shows sobering results in regards to wine’s positive effect on arteriosclerosis: the researchers were not able to find an improvement in the patients’ cardioprotective factors, such as the HDL-cholesterol levels, resulting in a reduction of the risk of arteriosclerosis. Participants who included physical activities in their daily routines, at least twice a week on the other hand, showed exceptional results. Within the course of the study, they were able to increase their HDL-cholesterol levels and in turn decrease their LDL levels, as well as the overall cholesterol values. The researchers assumed that the consumption of alcohol and the physical activities reinforced each other, showing a visibly positive effect. However, this assumption is questionable. 

The positive effect could also lie in the fact that people who participated in sports also have a healthier lifestyle in general, as well as a healthier diet. A large English study was also not able to prove the positive effect of alcohol on life expectancy. More than 18,000 people were monitored for 10 years without finding a correlation between alcohol consumption and a longer life.

When alcohol becomes dangerous

Wine does contain potentially health promoting ingredients, such as polyphenol, which has an antioxidative effect, eliminating free radicals. Their powers have nevertheless only been tested outside of the human body. One should also not forget that excessive consumption of alcohol can have profound consequences on our physical and psychological health. Alcohol can damage the liver and pancreas, while many cancer types have been associated with the consumption of alcohol as well. Alcohol is furthermore, simply a nerve poison. With every intoxication, millions of nerve cells die. A high consumption of alcohol, regularly, can lead to ongoing damage in the brain. This can result in changes in character or intelligence decline, as well as dementia.

The dose makes the poison

Due to the serious consequences, the average daily consumption of alcohol should be no more than 24 grams for men and 12 grams for women. The estimated harmless consumption for men is equivalent to about 0.5 liters  of beer or 0.25 liters of wine per day. Furthermore, it is recommended to not drink alcohol for at least two days every week. The consumption of alcohol can gradually increase from moderate to excessive and remain unnoticed for a long time, eventually leading to addiction. If affected people can no longer manage their day to day lives without alcohol, professional help should be considered.

The current state of knowledge leaves no definitive answers for the actual positive effects of alcohol, especially for red wine. Many signs even indicate the contrary. Nevertheless, a glass of good red wine is fine – as long as you stick to one glass only. After all, the dose makes the poison.