When it comes to wine and heart health, most of the attention is on red wine due to certain chemicals found in red grapes. However, drinking white wine in moderation may also provide some benefits. While managing cholesterol requires eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, drinking red or white wine in moderation, may be beneficial in some cases. Wine is not considered a health food and it is not appropriate for everyone, as drinking can make some medical conditions worse. It is always best to check with a physician before adding any alcohol into your diet.
Red Wine vs. White Wine
Wine comes from grapes that contain many healthy nutrients. All types of grapes including red and white, contain several types of antioxidants that can help in the fight against heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. However, red wine has a much higher concentration of a substance called resveratrol, because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than white wine is, according to MayoClinic.com. While much more research is needed, it may be the resveratrol that helps to improve cholesterol levels, but it is still unclear if red wine is really any better then white wine, beer or other foods that contain resveratrol such as grapes, grape juice, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries.
HDL Cholesterol Levels
While drinking alcohol is not considered the best treatment approach to manage heart disease, all types of alcohol including both red and white wine, appear to raise high density lipoprotein levels, states a 2001 advisory in the American Heart Association's "Circulation Journal." High density lipoproteins or HDL's, are considered the good kind of cholesterol because this type is excreted from the body. An HDL level of 60 or higher provides a protective effect against heart disease and can slow down the buildup of plaque along the artery walls. One to two drinks per day may increase HDL levels up to 12 percent in some patients. However, research on the benefits of wine consumption and higher HDL levels is inconclusive, but exercise and medications are proven methods to improve cholesterol levels.
LDL Cholesterol Levels
While both red and white wine may help to improve HDL levels, red wine contains not only resveratrol but special flavonoids that can also help lower low density lipoprotein levels or LDL's, notes the Yale New Haven Hospital. LDL's are considered the bad kind of cholesterol, because this type is stored in the body. When LDL levels get too high, plaque can buildup along the blood vessel walls, which raises the risk for heart disease, a heart attack or stroke. To protect against heart disease, the goal is to lower LDL levels to less then 100. The wines with the best protective effects appear to be drier red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir.
Warnings
While drinking red or white wine in moderation may provide some benefits, it is not safe for everyone. The Cleveland Clinic suggests that those with a history of alcohol abuse, anyone living with liver or pancreatic disease; heart failure; abnormal heart rhythms; uncontrolled high blood pressure; high triglyceride levels; diabetes; or who have had a heart attack or stroke; avoid alcohol. Alcohol is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women and all types of alcohol can interact negatively with many medications. All types wine contain calories and drinking too much can lead to weight gain. Men who drink more than two 5 oz. glasses of wine a day, or women who drink more then one 5 oz. glass of wine each day, may be at an increased risk of heart disease and many other health problems. Drinking a glass of wine needs to be combined with other healthy lifestyle changes to fully manage cholesterol levels.
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