After spending a full year of my life in a Balkan country (Macedonia), I can safely say that red wine has some specific health benefits, and properly incorporating this into your diet can have a positive impact. Of course, the absolute most important key is moderation.
You will hurt your body if you drink red wine or any alcohol in excess amounts, and it is not advisable in any situation.
However, quality red wine has some fairly significant health benefits that you should understand!
Many people enjoy an alcoholic beverage after a long day, and even drinking hard liquor or beer will not crumble your health if it is only occasionally. However, you can enjoy your alcohol and receive health benefits by choosing to drink a glass of red wine a bit before going to bed!
If you are interested in another form of alcohol that also has numerous health benefits, champagne is a similarly good option. Officially recognized as beneficial to health in the late 17th century, consumers claim champagne is adorned with a thousand virtues, including:
- Aiding Digestion
- Fighting Against Rheumatism
- Powerful Anti-Septic Properties
- Control Over Negative Thoughts
As I will explain more below, you can acquire numerous health benefits from red wine that you cannot find anywhere else, and many old-school doctors suggest that you have at least half a glass of red wine a day.
Molecular biology has unlocked the secrets of wine, discovering the vines and grapes contain polyphenols with antioxidants in beneficial quantity and quality.
Surprisingly, we now know that champagne contains 440 varieties of polyphenols (including the famous resveratrol, which allows the vine to resist pests), which is even more than red wine! Although some champagnes contain smaller amounts of polyphenols than red wine, the effect is over-activated by the double fermentation that characterizes the production of champagne.
Studies have not only shown the protective properties of moderate consumption of wine against cardiovascular diseases but also against some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
Keep reading below to learn more!
Resveratrol – The Secret Reason for the Health Benefits of Red Wine
Before I discuss more about drinking red wine and champagne, it is important that you understand resveratrol- the compound responsible for most of the benefits of these two drinks.
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, commonly found in high amounts in red wine.
Resveratrol most notably comes from grapes, and it is mainly concentrated in their “peel.” Due to this, the highest concentrations of resveratrol are found in red wines, because they red wines are produced from the fermentation of juice together with fruit skins.
Although drinking red wine has other health benefits outside of resveratrol, resveratrol is a very effective antioxidant and non-toxic fungicide (anti-fungal).
Aside from these two benefits, using resveratrol supplements has shown other unique health benefits.
For example, a study produced in Cell Metabolism concluded that,
“30 days of resveratrol supplementation induces metabolic changes in obese humans, mimicking the effects of calorie restriction.”
Furthermore, a study published in the journal Nutrition Research concluded that,
“oral supplementation of resveratrol is thus found to be effective in improving glycemic control and may possibly provide a potential adjuvant for the treatment and management of diabetes.”
If you would like to obtain some of the impressive benefits of drinking red wine before bed without drinking red wine itself, supplementing with resveratrol is a great option.
You can find many affordable options for resveratrol supplements on Amazon.
Click Here to Check Out Purely Beneficial Resveratrol on Amazon
Red Wine and Champagne Are Good for You and Your Heart!
According to the American Heart Association, studies have been conducted to show that red wine may reduce the risk of a second heart attack if you have already a heart attack. These studies also show that if you have never experienced a heart attack, a glass of red wine daily can reduce the risk of having one up to 50%!
One of the main reasons for this is because red wine promotes blood circulation and blood health, easing stress on the heart. Drinking a moderate amount of red wine each day can substantially increase your blood flow, and you will be able to see it in your skin!
Your skin will become brighter and healthier looking, and you will feel extra energy each day.
Red wine also has significant effects on cholesterol, another way in which red wine benefits the heart. These two factors indicate that red wine has positive effects on your heart!
According to the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology,
“wine was also found to increase lifespan by inducing longevity genes. It appears that resveratrol and proanthocyanidins, especially resveratrol, present in grapes and wines play a crucial role in cardioprotective abilities of grapes and wines.”
Health Benefits of Champagne
Before I let you know more about why you should drink your red wine before bed for the most benefits, I’ll quickly cover the basic benefits of champagne. As I said before, champagne has many unique health properties as well.
In 2009, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition claimed that two glasses of champagne a day might help to decrease the risk of stroke, or heart problems. The polyphenols found in champagne also improve the functioning of blood vessels by promoting blood circulation, reducing blood pressure and the likelihood of clots; just as red wine does.
Overall, moderate consumption of champagne has many of the same beneficial effects as those observed with red wine.
Drinking Champagne Might Help Improve Memory
Moderate consumption of champagne (2 to 3 glasses per week) has been shown to improve memory and prevent cognitive decline in studies. The polyphenols in champagne alter the levels of proteins that regulate memory and fight against their decline.
Champagne is also a natural anti-depressant in these doses, as champagne has properties which stimulate overall brain function.
Champagne Can Improve Your Skin Quality
With the help of various antioxidants, champagne helps to detoxify your skin, with a compound called tartaric acid helping to even out your skin tone.
Champagne also contains fewer carbohydrates when compared to red wine, containing only about 12 grams of residual sugar per liter. Drinking less sugar is always great for your skin!
Health Benefits of Red Wine Before Bed
Check out these general health benefits of red wine and reasons you should consume it before you go to sleep!
Red Wine Improves Longevity
Besides heart health, there are other reasons to enjoy a glass of red wine nearly every day!
Research has shown that people who drink a glass of wine a day tend to live much longer and have healthier lives. According to a study produced by the American College of Cardiology,
“light and moderate alcohol intake might have a protective effect on all-cause and CVD-specific mortality in US adults.”
Furthermore, according to a study produced in the Journal of Hypertension,
“Antioxidant substances in red wine counteracted the smoking-induced increase in peripheral systolic blood pressure. Both alcohol and antioxidants in red wine decrease wave reflections in uncomplicated habitual smokers postprandially, indicating an additional favorable effect of red wine.”
If you are a smoker, wine also reduces the amount of damage done to your blood vessels.
Red Wine Can Lower Your Blood Pressure
While the verdict is still out regarding scientific conclusiveness, studies do show that red wine may reduce hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
Although too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, alcohol in moderation can be very effective in lowering blood pressure.
As stated by a study produced in Circulation Research,
“Dealcoholized red wine decreases systolic and diastolic BP. Our results point out through an NO-mediated mechanism. The daily consumption of dealcoholized red wine could be useful for the prevention of low to moderate hypertension. “
Red Wine Can Help You Lose Weight
Several studies confirm that you can lose weight by drinking red wine before going to bed. Harvard University even conducted research for 13 years to confirm this. The research conducted on 20,000 women confirmed that women who drank up to two glasses of wine a day were less likely to be obese.
As stated in the study,
“Compared with nondrinkers, initially normal-weight women who consumed a light to moderate amount of alcohol gained less weight and had a lower risk of becoming overweight and/or obese during 12.9 years of follow-up.”
Drinking Red Wine Before Bed | The Key to the Health Benefits of Red Wine
If you want to make the most out of your red wine consumption, I suggest that you complete your drinking of alcohol a minimum of 1 hour and 30 minutes before you actually to go to sleep.
Although red wine contains melatonin which certainly helps you fall asleep and remain asleep, alcohol itself can have a strange effect on how you fall asleep, even in low doses. By drinking your wine a little bit earlier in the night, you will avoid any negative impacts on your biorhythm and garner all of the benefits!
Be careful though, a nightcap can have detrimental effects to your body, especially if over-consumed.
Naturally, anyone that has any problem drinking alcohol should not drink red wine or other alcoholic beverage. However, if you do not have any significant problem, red wine and champagne can both offer incredible benefits!
Remember, if you cannot drink alcohol or do not want to drink red wine itself, choosing resveratrol supplements is a fine option.
Click Here to Check Out Purely Beneficial Resveratrol on Amazon
Personally, my body felt as healthy as it ever has while consistently drinking high-quality red wine in Macedonia. My skin was noticeably more full in color, and I had more energy than ever. While I was in Macedonia, I worked my way up to performing 2,500 pushups in one day! In fact, this was all completed in one workout!
I do not believe this would have been possible without consistently drinking their red wine. My joints were certainly more mobile and less painful, and my overall conditioning was in great shape.
Regardless of which you choose, red wine and champagne can absolutely improve your overall health if used correctly!
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