Five Surprising Health Benefits of Wine

Calling all winos! Your favorite hobby is healthier than you think.

I think we can all agree that there is nothing better after a long, stressful day than a nice glass of red wine. Wine (when enjoyed responsibly) is also a great social lubricant over dinner, and the best friend of every girlfriend who has ever been called over to help a bestie through a breakup. This alcoholic beverage distilled from grapes has been around since antiquity, so obviously there is something magical about it.

You may be surprised to know, though, that there are also a decent amount of health benefits as well. These benefits are based on one, five-ounce glass of wine per day (for women), so please don’t go around telling your friends that it’s all right to drink a bottle for breakfast.

Stress– First and foremost, stress is a huge factor in everything from cardiovascular disease, to quality of life. If a glass of wine at the end of the day de-stresses you and allows you to relax, that alone is worth the price of admission.

READ MORE: Five Reasons Women Should Drink Less Than Men

Antioxidants– There are plenty of places to get antioxidants, but wine is arguably the most fun. White wine has more of these free-radical fighters than red, contrary to popular belief.

Stroke risk– The consumption of alcohol in general can help reduce the risk of blood clotting, because it thins your blood and breaks up any clots. Red wine tends to work better than white because red grape skins contain resveratrol. Just keep in mind that this is based on responsible, moderate drinking.

Cardiovascular disease and Cholesterol– Pretty much everyone knows that red wine is good for the heart. It contains tannins that can neutralize free radicals and prevent heart disease and increase blood flow. The resveratrol in red wine also lowers blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Diabetes and Cancer– The resveratrol in red wine also improves the bodies susceptibility to insulin, which reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes, and fights cancer cells. The antioxidants that fight free radicals in red wine also help reduce the risk of colon, prostate, and breast cancer.

I can’t stress enough that all these health benefits go out of the window if you drink in excess. As with all things, moderation is our friend, but I am happy to report that when consumed responsibly, wine can also be a good friend!