Is drinking red wine everyday bad?

[Battousai001]

Hi I would like to ask if drinking red wine everyday (usually before bed time) bad? I don't drink alcoholic beverage and never tried consuming even a bottle or a glass of any alcoholic beverage. Until now, my first and last consumption of alcoholic beverage which was red wine was last year and it was only less than a glass.

Last week I took 1/4 glass of red wine sometimes 1/3 for five days straight (I was thinking it was little amount). I'm not yet sure but the difference I felt was that I can sleep faster and better than before (although I am not sure if it is because of the wine).

So is drinking that amount of wine everyday bad? I don't like the taste of wine but the feeling of taking something good (according to health benefits of red wine that I read and heard) makes it taste better, although I prefer to take the de-alcoholized wine as it taste like grape juice.

[ConstipatedVigilante]

De-alcoholized wine IS grape juice. Because wine is fermented grapes. You don't take the alcohol out of wine and still have wine left.

As far as health benefits, I know my dad says there are some, but that's likely because he likes to drink red wine.

[lyssword]

umm I heard there are actually benefits to drinking red wine. Heard it many times in science stories, a bit of wine once a while is good

http://www.sciencedaily.com/search/?keyword=wine

[George P Burdell]

Sometimes, if you drink too much, junior might have trouble standing up. Other than that, you're fine! Cheers!

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: lyssword
umm I heard there are actually benefits to drinking red wine. Heard it many times in science stories, a bit of wine once a while is good

http://www.sciencedaily.com/search/?keyword=wine

Correlation not causation.

[Captante]

1-2 alcoholic drinks (containing roughly 1oz) a day won't hurt you at all & many studies have shown they may be good for you.

[Saint Michael]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
De-alcoholized wine IS grape juice. Because wine is fermented grapes. You don't take the alcohol out of wine and still have wine left.

As far as health benefits, I know my dad says there are some, but that's likely because he likes to drink red wine.

Well, wine doesn't really have any of the sugar that was in the grape juice, that is the most noticeable difference between the two... so "de-alcoholized" wine would taste pretty bad (just like regular wine).

[OverVolt]

I think it can be a source of antioxidants, but really, just eat some veggies.

Using it before bed to help you fall asleep is a no-no.

Pretty sure it reduces the time spend in stage4 sleep, even though you fall asleep faster because it makes you drowsee.

[vi edit]

People that drink in moderation typically live longer than people that don't drink at all.

But there's more to it than simply the innate health benefit of the drink itself.

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: OverVolt
I think it can be a source of antioxidants, but really, just eat some veggies.

Using it before bed to help you fall asleep is a no-no.

Pretty sure it reduces the time spend in stage4 sleep, even though you fall asleep faster because it makes you drowsee.

reduces REM sleep.

[Descartes]

If you're looking for health benefits, I'm quite sure there are cheaper, more efficient and more palatable (since you don't like wine) options for you. I've never heard of anyone drinking red wine only for health benefits.

As you know, it's the resveratrol in the skins of the grapes that gives you the antioxidant benefits so heavily marketed these days. You can actually get this in pill form if you like. You could also just eat red grapes, although you'll be getting the resveratrol in a significantly less concentration. You could also look to tea (green or white specifically), acai or pomegranate if you're just looking for something heavy in antioxidants.

I drink red (sometimes white) wine just about everyday, but I do so because I love wine.

[GagHalfrunt]

The health benefits of drinking red wine in moderation are well-known and are not disputed by any credible health organization.

[0roo0roo]

the health benifits of red wine cannot be had naturally. you'd have to drink massive amounts to get the good dose...and then that twould be self defeating

[screwd01]

i drank a glass everyday with dinner my last semester at school. It's relaxing and I did start because of the reports of health benefits. The number one thing it did was raise my tolerance for other kinds of alcohol . I recommend it to everyone, except females....they are supposed to drink 1-2 drinks a weeks for the benefits

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Sometimes, if you drink too much, junior might have trouble standing up. Other than that, you're fine! Cheers!

I have no drinking problem.

I drink.

I get drunk.

I fall down.

No problem.

[FoBoT]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...-and-nutrition/AN00576

Recent studies have suggested that red and purple grape juices may provide the same heart-healthy benefits of red wine, including:

* Reducing the risk of blood clots
* Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol
* Preventing damage to blood vessels in your heart
* Helping maintain a healthy blood pressure

Both red wine and grape juice also contain antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol and lower your risk of clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), and may help lower blood pressure.

[getbush]

http://www.americanheart.org/p....jhtml?identifier=4422

I believe right now the American Heart Association's position is that a glass of red wine a day is fine, but if you don't already there isn't good enough reason to start.

Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease

Are there cardiovascular risks associated with drinking alcohol?

Drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood (triglycerides) (tri-GLIS'er-idz). It can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and an increased calorie intake. (Consuming too many calories can lead to obesity and a higher risk of developing diabetes.) Excessive drinking and binge drinking can lead to stroke. Other serious problems include fetal alcohol syndrome, cardiomyopathy (kar"de-o-mi-OP'ah-the), cardiac arrhythmia (ah-RITH'me-ah) and sudden cardiac death.

AHA Recommendation

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.) Drinking more alcohol increases such dangers as alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, suicide and accidents. Also, it's not possible to predict in which people alcoholism will become a problem. Given these and other risks, the American Heart Association cautions people NOT to start drinking ... if they do not already drink alcohol. Consult your doctor on the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation.

What about red wine and heart disease?

Over the past several decades, many studies have been published in science journals about how drinking alcohol may be associated with reduced mortality due to heart disease in some populations. Some researchers have suggested that the benefit may be due to wine, especially red wine. Others are examining the potential benefits of components in red wine such as flavonoids (FLAV'oh-noidz) and other antioxidants (an"tih-OK'sih-dants) in reducing heart disease risk. Some of these components may be found in other foods such as grapes or red grape juice. The linkage reported in many of these studies may be due to other lifestyle factors rather than alcohol. Such factors may include increased physical activity, and a diet high in fruits and vegetables and lower in saturated fats No direct comparison trials have been done to determine the specific effect of wine or other alcohol on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke.

Are there potential benefits of drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages?

Research is being done to find out what the apparent benefits of drinking wine or alcohol in some populations may be due to, including the role of antioxidants, an increase in HDL ("good") cholesterol or anti-clotting properties. Clinical trials of other antioxidants such as vitamin E have not shown any cardio-protective effect. Also, even if they were protective, antioxidants can be obtained from many fruits and vegetables, including red grape juice.

The best-known effect of alcohol is a small increase in HDL cholesterol. However, regular physical activity is another effective way to raise HDL cholesterol, and niacin can be prescribed to raise it to a greater degree. Alcohol or some substances such as resveratrol (res-VAIR'ah-trol) found in alcoholic beverages may prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together. That may reduce clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. (Aspirin may help reduce blood clotting in a similar way.) How alcohol or wine affects cardiovascular risk merits further research, but right now the American Heart Association does not recommend drinking wine or any other form of alcohol to gain these potential benefits. The AHA does recommend that to reduce your risk you should talk to your doctor about lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, controlling your weight, getting enough physical activity and following a healthy diet. There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace these conventional measures.

What about alcohol and pregnancy?

Pregnant women shouldn't drink alcohol in any form. It can harm the baby seriously, including causing birth defects.

What about alcohol and aspirin?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that people who take aspirin regularly should not drink alcohol. Heart disease patients should stop drinking and keep taking aspirin if their doctor prescribed it for their heart condition. Patients should not stop taking aspirin without first talking to their doctor.

[IceBergSLiM]

wow. redefining conservative.

[SketchMaster]

I look at it like this:

If you want to drink but are worried about health, wine is the safest bet.

If you want to become more healthy, drink grape and blueberry juice.

You can't have health and alcohol at the same time.

[Dunbar]

To the OP, if you're male than you need to drink at least a full (5oz.) glass of wine to get tthe health benefits (women 25-30% less.) Drinking less than that generally isn't associated with the health benefits.

[0roo0roo]

A statement by Qiwei Zhai, lead author of the report, recommended caution to resveratrol enthusiasts, noting that those who have been drinking red wine might "think about drinking less."

Previous studies had indicated that a human would have to drink about 120 liters of red wine in a day to get the benefit seen in animals. The new results reduce that amount to a still-substantial three liters.http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=608674

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Battousai001
Hi I would like to ask if drinking red wine everyday (usually before bed time) bad? I don't drink alcoholic beverage and never tried consuming even a bottle or a glass of any alcoholic beverage. Until now, my first and last consumption of alcoholic beverage which was red wine was last year and it was only less than a glass.

Last week I took 1/4 glass of red wine sometimes 1/3 for five days straight (I was thinking it was little amount). I'm not yet sure but the difference I felt was that I can sleep faster and better than before (although I am not sure if it is because of the wine).

So is drinking that amount of wine everyday bad? I don't like the taste of wine but the feeling of taking something good (according to health benefits of red wine that I read and heard) makes it taste better, although I prefer to take the de-alcoholized wine as it taste like grape juice.

Red wine tends to speed up the time it takes for you to fall asleep initially (this effect wears off in a few weeks as your body gets more used to the alcohol). However, you tend not to sleep as deeply, so the quality of your sleep goes down. It's generally better to drink earlier in the night rather than closer to bedtime.

Most study does show that 1 glass of red wine per day does have beneficial effects.

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...-and-nutrition/AN00576

agreed, i've never seen an article that stated the benefits of red wine could not be had from grape juice or that stated red wine is healthier than grape juice.

drink grape juice, not red wine

[compuwiz1]

The only time wrong with drinking red wine, is when you don't go to bed with a girl.

[cherrytwist]

It's all about the flavonoids.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavonoid

Wine

Grape skins contain significant amounts of flavonoids as well as other polyphenols[9]. Both red and white wine contain flavonoids; however, since red wine is produced by fermentation in the presence of the grape skins, red wine has been observed to contain higher levels of flavonoids, and other polyphenolics such as resveratrol.

Myself, I prefer Guinness :beer: