There is a “urban myth” that drinking red wine is good for you? Does the evidence support the myth though.

It started with “The French Paradox”. In the 1980s, studies showed low risk of heart disease in the French. This was surprising as the French diet was high in saturated fats. The premise was that the French were protected by the red wine that accompanied these rich meals.

Resveratrol is a compound found in the skin of the red grape. Red wine is fermented with the grape skin; white wine isn’t.

Resveratrol was shown to have health benefits in mice but the equivalent doses for humans would be hundreds of glasses of red wine.

Resveratrol is found in grapes, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, peanuts and non-alcoholic red.

Studies in populations that consume high doses of natural resveratrol, showed no difference in health benefits – like in the Chianti region of Italy.

the Japanese prefer sake – fermented rice wine – and beer and have lower rates of heart disease.

The “Healthy” consumption of red wine is 1 unit daily for women and 2 units daily for men. A bottle of red wine that is 15% alcohol has 15 units in 1 litre or 1.9 units in 125mls! The average is 150ml red wine for women and 300mls for men. Exceeding this and any potential benefit of red wine is outweighed by the risks.

The French Paradox is better explained by the overall “Mediterranean” lifestyle of the French and not their consumption of red wine.

If you don’t drink red wine, then don’t start drinking just for any possible health benefits – have a bunch of red grapes instead.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-red-wine-good-actually-for-your-heart-2018021913285

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/red-wine-good-or-bad

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265635.php

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281

http://www.drjoel.co.za/book-an-appointment