Although drinking alcohol in excess can prove detrimental to your heart and other vital organs, a moderate amount of red wines may reduce your risk of heart disease. This is mostly due to the presence of antioxidants, flavonoids and wine's ability to slightly increase high-density lipoprotein, or good, cholesterol levels, according to the American Heart Association. There are several heart healthy wines that you can consume in moderation that may improve your health.
Cabernet Sauvignon
According to the 1999 BBC News article Cabernet Best for the Heart, cabernet sauvignon contains high levels of resveratrol, which increases blood levels of good cholesterol and slows the production of bad cholesterol. This wine variety is a common food accompaniment in France and despite this population's high-saturated fat diet the incidence of heart disease is rather low in comparison to the U.S., Charles Sullivan says in his book, A Companion to California Wine. Cabernet sauvignon, Sullivan says, has the most phenols conducive in protecting the heart.
Madiran
A 2008 Women's Health article indicates that the wine variety madiran helps to guard against hardening of the arterial pathways and heart disease. The wine is composed of 50 percent Tanna grapes and 50 percent Cabernet Franc grapes, according to Women's Health. The antioxidants in this dark, rich red wine are helpful in protecting you from heart disease and obstructions in the arteries.
Malbec
Malbec wine is one of the healthiest wines, according to the book Superfoods for Dummies by Bren Agin and Shereen Jegtvig. Enjoying a 5-oz. glass of this variety of wine per day, can provide health benefits comparable to those reaped by drinking green tea, Agin and Jegtvig say. It helps in the prevention of heart attacks and stroke, while actively increasing your good cholesterol levels. The antioxidants in red wine varieties such as malbec and the preceding types may also prevent cancer and improve longevity.
References
- American Heart Association: Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease
- BBC News: Cabernet Best for the Heart
- "A Companion to California Wine"; Charles Sullivan; 1998
- "Women's Health"; The Five-Second Wine Finder; 2008
- "Superfoods for Dummies"; Bren Agin and Shereen Jegtvig; 2009
