Red Wine Produce HDL Cholesterol
Antioxidants, known as flavonoids, are found in red wine. These antioxidants reduce the risk of diseases in a number of ways. First, they are responsible for reducing the LDL, or bad cholesterol, in the bloodstream. These bad cholesterols are the main causes why people suffer from various complications. If only a few of them are produced, there will be lesser risks for diseases. Second, the antioxidants in red wine also reduce the tendency for blood clotting. There are times when blood clots inside the artery walls. This could lead to serious complications including heart attacks and strokes. Finally, these antioxidants are also responsible for the production of HDL, or the good cholesterol.
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is very important. It is the one that eliminates the bad cholesterol from the blood. It transports all the bad cholesterols from the artery walls and sends them to the liver. The liver processes these bad cholesterols and excretes them from the body as wastes. By keeping these harmful substances from the blood, HDL is doing a preventive contribution against heart attacks. HDL also maintains the artery walls in good state. It scrubs the harmful fatty substances from the arteries so that they will not pile up.
A variety of wines has been tested at the University of California. The tests are done to determine which wines have the most number of HDL cholesterols. The top variants that have a lot of HDL cholesterol levels are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Petit Syrah. These beverages are very rich in flavonoid antioxidants. The testers have concluded that the sweeter the wine is, the fewer the good cholesterols are. The drier the wine is, the higher the HDL level is.
How much red wine should I drink?
Of course, the amount of red wine that should be partaken is a major concern. No matter how beneficial that beverage may be, it can still cause complications if taken in huge quantities. Too much wine can increase the rate of heart attack and hypertension. Too much liquor can also increase the number of serum triglycerides in the bloodstream. Aside from that, wine can also destruct the liver and the pancreas. So how much is too much? People are recommended to drink one to two servings daily. One serving is equivalent to four ounces. Of course, there is a difference between the amounts that women and men should drink. Men have a high tolerance level when it comes to strong drinks. That is why it is not bad if they can consume two servings in a day. After all, one glass of wine is not enough especially for special occasions. In fact, some men can drink more than one bottle, but that is very hazardous to the health. It is not ideal for women to drink more than one glass in a day. This is so that they could achieve the maximum number of benefits. However, this does not literally mean that people are encouraged to regularly drink alcoholic drinks. After all, people who only drink occasionally have better chances of survival than the heavy drinkers.
Other Health Benefits of Red Wine
Aside from being a good combatant against bad cholesterol, red wine also has a few benefits. The following are some of those benefits.
- People who are having a hard time when it comes to sleep might want to drink a few glasses of wine before bedtime. Certain variants, especially Chianti and Merlot are rich in melatonin. Melatonin helps regulate the body clock. Those who are suffering from insomnia might want to try this as an alternative to warm milk.
- Red wine contains a lot of antioxidants. As a lot of people know, antioxidants prevent cancer cells from building up inside the body. There are different types of cancer cells that can be prevented if people will drink red wine. Experts from the University of Santiago de Compostela found out that one glass of red wine a day can reduce the risk of lung cancer for about thirteen percent. The risks for prostate cancer can also be reduced by fifty percent.
- Red wine is also rich in Reseveratrol which is very good for brain health. This antioxidant protects people from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Aside from that, it also has a lot of anti-inflammatory properties. Since a lot of diseases are associated with inflammation, red wine is definitely recommended.
These are some of the benefits that red wine can offer. However, its most important contribution is still the reduction of high cholesterol levels from the body. Of course, people must never forget to drink moderately.
