We’ve all seen the headlines claiming that drinking a glass of wine daily will help you live longer, especially if it happens to be red wine. Is this too good to be true? Is red wine healthy? Is it a healthier wine choice than white wine? 

The Case for Red Wine 

While no alcoholic beverage is as healthy as your green juice, red wine is one of the healthiest choices when compared to other alcohols. Yes, that includes white wines too!

 Drinking red wine has a number of unique health benefits that aren’t found in white wine. Here are a few of them: 

Stress Relief 

A glass of red wine can help you reduce stress without consuming too much alcohol. 

Wine is best at relieving stress when you take your time to enjoy the experience. The mental health benefits of relaxing and sipping an aromatic glass of red wine can add to the stress-relieving effects. 

If the setting around drinking wine boosts the benefits of the wine itself, why not do it right? Drink from a big wine glass, so you can release the full aroma of the wine, enhancing the flavor and making the entire experience better. Choose a wine you’re excited to drink, and have a glass with dinner after a long day. 

The Power of Antioxidants 

Red wines are rich in antioxidants, especially a particular antioxidant called resveratrol. Resveratrol is known to have help with inflammation, blood pressure, and heart disease. It’s also thought to reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. 

The reason red wines have more antioxidants is that the grapes are fermented with the skins, whereas grapes used for white wines are typically fermented without the skins. Grapes carry a higher concentration of antioxidants in the skin than the flesh itself, leading to higher levels of antioxidants in red wines than white wines. 

These benefits don’t outweigh the serious consequences of over-consumption of alcohol. As long as red wine is taken in moderation, it can improve the antioxidant levels in your body. 

Gut Health 

Red wine can contribute to a favorable mix of gut bacteria. It contains useful phytochemical compounds that promote the growth of these beneficial bacteria. Gut health is vital to your overall wellbeing and disease prevention. 

Compared to white wines, strong alcoholic beverages, and other non-alcoholic beverages, red wine was found to have the most noticeable positive impact on gut health. 

The good part is, that’s not the only gut-related benefit you can get from it. 

Better Digestion 

If you drink a glass of red wine with a meal, it can improve your digestion. 

The polyphenols in red wines can help to relax your stomach and reduce oxidation, which stops some of the negative effects of digestion. It’s particularly helpful for digesting fatty foods and red meats. 

Another interesting way red wine can help your digestion is by creating a hostile environment for contaminated food. While your stomach acid does a pretty good job of that already, the alcohol in red wine adds another layer of defense against harmful pathogens. 

What is the Verdict? 

Red wine is healthier than white wine because it has higher levels of beneficial nutrients like resveratrol, antioxidants, and polyphenols. 

A glass of red wine can be part of a healthy diet, as long as you always drink in moderation!