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Throughout the centuries red wine has been purported to cure many ills—from indigestion and insomnia to recent studies supporting its beneficial effects in treating heart disease and promoting longevity.  People living in the Mediterranean attribute much of their good health and long life span to this beloved beverage.  However, the key to combining good health and wine drinking lies in the concept of light to moderate drinking with meals on a regular basis.  Otherwise, heavy drinking can result in an increased risk of many diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, cirrhosis, cancer, and alcoholism which, in turn, may lead to a shortened lifespan.

So what constitutes moderate alcohol intake?  One drink is equal to 5 ounces—the Dietary Guidelines recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two a day for men.  Red wine has been found to be the most beneficial type of wine due to several factors—its higher polyphenol and tannic acid content along with containing more of the grapes chemical compounds.

What is the best red wine to choose to drink?  Pinot noir may be the best pick as studies have shown it has the highest level of the antioxidant resveratrol which has many anti-aging properties.  When drinking wine, it may be a good idea to combine it with a meal as wine may inhibit the absorption of fatty acids.  Drinking a glass of wine with a meal helps encourage you to relax, slow down, and really enjoy you meal.  Wine has also been shown to protect your body from the bacteria in foods which is another good reason to imbibe with a meal.

Remember:  If a teetotaler, don’t start drinking; however, if wine is a preferred beverage, moderation along with a healthy diet is the key to receiving it’s many health benefits.