A small glass of wine with dinner can really enhance your meal, and some wines are actually considered cardio-protective. Research in the last several decades leans toward the robust red wines as the most heart-healthy choices. The reds contain powerful antioxidant, antithrombic and anti-ischemic properties, which basically means they keep blood flowing through your arteries to prevent blockages leading to stroke or heart complications. If you enjoy the occasional glass of wine, consider incorporating one with your meals once a day after you consult your physician.
Heart Healthy Properties
Phenol compounds are produced in plants like the red vining grapes used to make red wine. Within these compounds are flavonoids, which are antioxidants that give the grape vibrant color and flavor. As the grapes are prepared into wine, they ferment and this enhances the potency of the healing ingredients. Resveratrol and saponins are two main flavonoids found to have specific heart healthy effects, including reducing bad cholesterol, preventing blood clots and decreasing inflammation of the heart. A 2001 review in "Experimental and Clinical Cardiology" further indicates that moderate consumption of red wine relaxes the smooth muscle around your heart and has an anti-hypertensive effect on your blood vessels, which is good for keeping your blood pressure low.
Most Potent Reds
Madiran red wines are slowly fermented, allowing the healing ingredients to have increased potency. The Madiran wines are deemed the healthiest wines, but they are produced in the southwest region of France and may not be easily accessible or affordable. Cabernet Sauvignon, however, is a readily available, full-bodied wine that also tops the list as heart-healthy above other reds. Rounding out the healthiest reds is Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir, notes Yale-New Haven Hospital. Red Zinfandel is not necessarily the richest red wine, but it does take the badge for highest saponin content because it contains the highest volume of alcohol of all the reds. According to a 2003 study funded by the University of California, Davis, the high alcohol content makes the saponins more soluble, which means more heart-healthy benefits.
Healthy Consumption
As with any intoxicating beverage, there is a fine line between healthy, moderate drinking and excessive consumption. Moderation is indicated as no more than one glass of wine at a 5 oz. serving for women or two glasses of the same serving for men per day, notes MayoClinic.com. If you already enjoy an occasional wine beverage, you can benefit from a moderate daily serving, but if you do not currently drink, do not begin as a means to protect your heart. You are not advised to add wine to your daily consumption if you have or have had a problem with alcohol abuse or addiction. Before you add wine to your meals, consult your physician to discuss safety for your health.
Precautions
Conditions including liver disease, pancreatitis, congestive heart failure and metabolic syndromes can worsen with alcohol use. Excessive drinking can weaken your heart muscle and lead to heart failure, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. Certain medications interact with alcohol and can cause dizziness, nausea or neurological complications. If you have pre-existing medical problems, use of wine for heart health may not be advisable. Consult your physician to discuss your options with drinking wine.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Red Wine and Resveratrol; Good for Your Heart?; Mayo Clinic Staff; March 4, 2011
- Yale-New Haven Hospital: A Glass of Red Wine a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
- Linus Pauling Institute: Resveratrol
- GoodRedWine.org: The Healthiest Red Wine
- Experimental and Clinical Cardiology: Protective Effects of Red Wine Polyphenolic Compounds on the Cardiovascular System; Woineshet Zenebe MV et al; 2001
- Circulation: Red Wine and Your Heart; Paul E. Szmitko et al; 2005
