A cholesterol test measures the amounts of three types of lipids in your bloodstream: low-density lipoprotein, also known as LDL or "bad" cholesterol; triglycerides, a type of fat that puts you at increased risk of heart attacks and strokes; and high-density lipoprotein, sometimes called HDL or "good" cholesterol because it helps pull harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides out of your bloodstream. Heavy consumption of wine may elevate your triglycerides and moderate consumption of red wine may reduce LDL cholesterol.
Wine and Triglycerides
If you drink a lot of wine--or a lot of any type of alcohol--you may increase your triglycerides. Healthy triglycerides measure 150mg/dl--milligrams per deciliter of blood--or less. Levels higher than 200mg/dl put you at a high risk for developing cardiovascular disease and levels that top 500mg/dl put you at a very high risk. If you drink wine, drink no more than one 4-oz. glass if you're a woman or man older than 50. Drink no more than two glasses of wine if you're a man younger than 50.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants in red wine may lower your LDL cholesterol. As of date of publication, science about this remains inconclusive and no evidence suggests that you take up wine drinking just to reduce your risk of heart disease. But an antioxidant in red wine--resveratrol--may lower your cholesterol. You could obtain resveratrol by eating grapes or drinking grape juice rather than drinking red wine. White wine also contains resveratrol but in smaller amounts. If you drink wine or other alcohol moderately, you may improve your levels of HDL cholesterol and reduce your risk for blood clots. If you drink alcohol other than wine, keep these serving sizes in mind: beer, 12 oz.; 80-proof liquor, 1 1/2 oz.; and 100-proof liquor, 1 oz.
Calories
A 4-oz. glass of wine contains about 75 to 105 calories, depending on its sugar content. If you drank two glasses of wine a day, you'd add 150 to 210 calories to your daily diet. During the course of a year, you could gain 15 to 22 lbs. from drinking wine, based on the formula that a pound equals 3,500 calories. Carrying excess weight puts you at added risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.
Considerations
Although wine drinking affects your cholesterol levels, other factors also influence your cardiovascular health. Some conditions remain beyond your control. These include your age, gender and family history of heart disease. But you can reduce some risk factors, including smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle. The American Heart Association recommends you limit your consumption of animal products as they provide the primary sources of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. Limit your consumption of trans fat, found mostly in margarine and shortening, and items that contain added sugar such as regular soda. If you drink wine, choose dry wines over sweet ones. A 4-oz. glass of dessert wine contains 9g of sugar, compared to about 0.7g in a glass of red table wine.
References
- MayoClinic.com; High cholesterol: Tests and diagnosis; June 24, 2010
- "Circulation"; Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association; Michael Miller, et al.; April 18, 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart?; March 4, 2011
- American Heart Association: Alcohol and Cardiovascular Disease
- College Drinking -- Changing the Culture: Alcohol Calorie Calculator
- MayoClinic.com; High cholesterol: Risk factors; June 24, 2010
