Here’s some news to brighten your day and put a spring in your step – according to a new study, red wine may actually be good for your gut and help you keep your weight down.
British researchers have found that red wine drinkers are less likely to be overweight, have lower cholesterol and are more likely to have a healthy mix of bacteria in their stomachs than those who drink white wine, beer or spirits. Which is all music to our ears!
It’s not the first time we’ve heard about the beneficial properties of red wine. A glass of the tipple has long been considered good for your heart, with the antioxidants in red wine (held in the skin of the grapes) thought to help prevent coronary heart disease and decrease the risk of heart attacks. And a couple of years ago, a report revealed that adding the chemicals found in red wine to old cells made them behave more like young cells, helping you look more youthful.
This latest research, which comes from King’s College London, delves further into the wine’s health-giving properties. Scientists believe that the anti-oxidant chemicals found in red wine, known as ‘polyphenols’, may act as fuel for good bacteria in the gut. What’s more, a healthy gut microbiome is thought to boost the immune system and protect against weight gain and high cholesterol.
Dr Caroline Le Roy, who led the study, said: “If you must choose one alcoholic drink today, red wine is the one to pick as it seems to potentially exert a beneficial effect on you and your gut microbes, which in turn may also help weight and risk of heart disease.”
The only downside? Apparently you can get the benefits with as little as one glass of red per fortnight, and only “moderate red wine consumption” is advised. Still, it beats a probiotic any day!
