When asking if drinking wine can cause high cholesterol, you may be surprised to learn the answer is yes. But it raises good cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is believed to flush cholesterol out of the body while LDL (bad) cholesterol builds up in the inner walls of the arteries to narrow the arteries and increase the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Benefits
Research shows there may be a small increase in HDL cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Also, wine may prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together to reduce clot formation and fight bad cholesterol.
Warning
The AHA, however, points out that further research is needed. It does not recommend red wine or any other alcohol to gain the potential benefits that may aid in good cholesterol. The association does recommend consulting your doctor and practicing weight control, getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet to fight LDL cholesterol. The AHA notes there is not enough scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverages can be as advantageous as the conventional routines of physical activity and eating well.
Effective
Red wine has flavenoids, which have been shown to lower bad cholesterol, according to the LDL Heart Disease website. Red wine also contains saponins, a glucose-based chemical from plants. Saponins lower LDL cholesterol a few percentage points when consumed regularly. Research shows red wine is more effective at lowering cholesterol than white wine, which is only about 20 percent as effective as red wine.
Oxidation
Red wine may also reduce oxidative stress caused by increased blood glucose levels after meals, according to the American Diabetes Association. This oxidation aids LDL cholesterol in the fatty build-up in arteries. Research published in the December 1999 issue of "Diabetes Care" suggests that consuming two 5 oz. glasses of red wine with a meal by people with Type 2 diabetes reduced the compounds that can bring on oxidative stress to cause vascular damage. Dr. Antonio Ceriello, who headed the research, later said that the flavenoids in red wine, apples, onions and green tea may protect against oxidative damage when consumed daily, along with a healthy lifestyle.
Moderation
If choosing to drink daily for the positive effects of red wine, it is advised to drink in moderation. That would be two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Drinking excessively can have the opposite effects you desire. Consuming too much alcohol regularly can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and obesity. If you want to be on the safe side, grape juice has been shown to have the same cholesterol benefits as wine, according to Organized Wisdom, a health Website.
