After all, is a glass of wine a day really good? – GOOD SHAPE

Besides being delicious, wine is the perfect drink to accompany a nice meal with a group of friends. But beyond its social function, there are indications that a glass of wine a day helps health. Is it true? We consulted experts to find out.

AFINAL, CAN I TAKE WINE DAILY?

Have you ever heard that the difference between poison and medicine is the dose? So it is. According to Viviane Gomesnutritionist at Instituto Castro, the consumption of 1 glass of wine a day can be beneficial to healthas it is rich in antioxidants preventing some health problems.

WINE BENEFITS

In wine we find several beneficial health assets, such as:

Resveratrol: found in the skin of the purple grape, preventing against some diseases such as cancer, heart attack, stroke (Cerebral Vascular Accident) and diabetes.

Tannins and Flavonoids: are antioxidants present in red wine that contain prebiotic action increasing the amount of beneficial bacteria in the gut, in addition to strengthening the immune system.

Polyphenols: also present in the skin of the grape, increasing the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and decreasing the bad cholesterol (LDL). With this, it inhibits the formation of fat plaques in the blood, avoiding the thrombi that cause heart attacks and strokes (Cerebral Vascular Accident). Still according to the professional, polyphenols help to lower blood sugar, increasing insulin and reducing free glucose, preventing diabetes.

BUT

the cardiologist Marcelo Cantarelli explains that, despite the benefits, the amount of these substances in wine is small, making their benefits to be achieved at long term and difficult even to confirm in large studies. “The main studies with wine consumption are done experimentally in animals in vitro, in which the doses used of resveratrol, for example, are higher and these benefits are clearer. But in a way, we can say that moderate wine consumption can be beneficial”.

These antioxidant substances are also found in other foods such as orange, açaí, blackberry and cherry.

WHICH WINE TO CONSUME?

The first difference between wines is the question of which one should be consumed, red wine or white wine? “Red wine has a much higher amount of substances, polyphenols and flavonoids that are beneficial substances, and it contains 10 times more polyphenols than white wine, and this is a manufacturing process, since red wine is made with the whole grape. , rinds and are macerated for a long time. these substances are more present in the skin than in the grape pulp and white wine is made with just the pulp,” explains Marcelo.

There are a number of divisions between varieties and grapes, where some have more polyphenols than others. The one that most brings these actives is the Tannat grape, very common in the Uruguay region and in the south.

According to Viviane, in Smooth wine we find a sweeter flavor that ends up pleasing the palate more, but the quality and its properties are already lower, as it is made from more common grapes such as Niagara or Herbermont.

At the Wine Dry, in turn, we find a more striking and strong flavor, being more acidic. Its elaboration is from nobler grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon among others, which have more of the beneficial assets.

POSSIBLE HARMFUL

Despite having its positive side, we cannot forget that wine is a alcoholic beverage which can, when not consumed correctly, harm the health and life of those who consume it.

Its excess can lead to obesity, since it has a high caloric value (a glass of dry wine with 150 ml about 123 Kcal may be a little higher depending on the grape harvest). In addition, it can bring other consequences such as dependence, liver cirrhosis and even heart problems.

“We also warn that for the consumption of a glass of wine a day, one cannot have the consumption of daily medications. If the person is elderly, guidance from a multidisciplinary team (doctors, nutritionists, etc.) is necessary so that consumption does not cause damage to health” advises Viviane.