The health benefits of red wine have been a matter of debate for some time now. There are many who believe that having one glass of red wine daily can be a valuable addition to our diet, while others think that its advantages are overrated. Yet, there is no denying the studies that have reportedly shown that moderate red wine consumption seems to lower the risk of several diseases, including heart disease. The keyword: moderate. Here, we look at some benefits of red wine for health, skin, weight loss and more.
Is Red Wine Good for Skin?
It is common knowledge that drinking a glass of red wine a day can ward off the blues, make you feel good, and even boost heart health and cell regeneration! But did you know, red wine can be excellent for the skin as well? Topical application of this ingredient has a multitude of skincare benefits. A look and why and how to include this in your beauty regimen.
Combats skin damage: Red wine uses the skin of grapes, which contains a potent ingredient called resveratrol, an antioxidant. Resveratrol is a key anti-ageing ingredient, which combats the damage done by free radicals, boosts cell function, and helps collagen production happen naturally. It keeps skincare free of wrinkles, dark spots and fine lines, while also creating a protective barrier from pollution and the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Helps clean and clear skin: Red wine also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for skin that is prone to acne and infections, skin that has been out in the sun too long, skin that has open pores. It slows down the growth of harmful skin bacteria and is the best kind of toner there is – using one teaspoon red wine mixed with one teaspoon water after cleansing, can really give your skin a texture boost.
Ensures even-toned skin: Red wine can also be good for the skin on the body. For smoother skin, with more elasticity and firmness, dip a sponge or loofah in red wine that has been diluted slightly, and use as an exfoliating scrub once a week. This will ensure even-toned skin on the arms and legs, reduce blackening on the knees and elbows and create smoother skin overall.
Works as a face scrub: You can use red wine on the face by itself as a toner/cleanser, or in combination with other ingredients for a face pack or a face scrub. You can combine it with aloe vera gel, Multani mitti, ground cinnamon or honey for a face pack, with rose water or lemon tea for a cleanser, or with oatmeal or sugar for a scrub.
Tip: Red wine is thought to be one of the best anti-aging drinks.
Red Wine Facials and How it Benefits The Skin
Across the country and the world, red wine facials are popular with cosmetologists and women cutting age groups. A red wine Across the country and the world, red wine facials are popular with cosmetologists and women cutting age groups. A red wine facial is a treatment that uses red wine – a potent anti-oxidant – as its main ingredient. With an anti-oxidant activity 50 times more effective than vitamin E and 20 times more than vitamin C, red wine visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and improves skin elasticity and moisture content. It protects against free radicals and increases intracellular levels of vitamin C and, which has an anti-wrinkle effect. It inhibits the destruction of collagen fibres, stimulates the activity of certain detoxifying enzymes and inhibits others that are responsible for premature ageing of cutaneous tissues. This can have a positive effect on the skin!
The effects of a red wine facial are visible from the first treatment itself but are to some extent dependant on the condition of your skin. The treatment is a set procedure that uses products as per the individual skin type and skin condition and needs an anti-ageing machine to achieve results. A single treatment can cost upwards of Rs. 2,000/- in India and is available at most leading hi-end spas and 5-star hotel spas across the country.
Tip: A wine facial works for some skin types. See if you fit the bill.
Red Wine for Weight Loss Benefits
You may have been told that if you want to lose weight, you must ditch booze, avoid high-calorie food and hit the gym. Well, the latter pieces of advice may work for all of us, but ditching booze to lose weight is not a good idea, say experts. According to researchers, drinking red wine in moderation can actually help you in your weight loss journey.
How does it work: As per researchers, drinking two glasses of red wine can help you in losing weight. The studies were conducted at Washington State University and Harvard Medical School and claimed that a polyphenol called 'resveratrol', which is present in red wine, helps in losing weight. Polyphenol converts white fat, which are larger cells that store energy and expand as we gain weight, into obesity-fighting beige fat and this fat is much easier to lose.
Another study was done at Harvard study on 20,000 women. It revealed that women who were drinking wine had a 70 per cent reduced risk of developing obesity. They also found that drinking wine initially slowed weight gain in women. However, these women self-reported their weight over time.
Tip: The key is moderation.
Other Benefits of Red Wine
Drinking red wine is good for our health, claim health experts. Do keep in mind though that a healthy lifestyle and wholesome diet can play an even bigger role in ensuring good health.
Reduce the risk of some heart disease: A few studies have also shown that drinking wine in small to moderate quantities may help in reducing risks for some kinds of heart disease.
Lowers risk of stroke: Red wine may also help in lowering the risk of strokes and early death. This is because when your red wine helps within a certain limit, it can help retain the 'good' HDL cholesterol in the blood.
Reduces the risk of some cancers: It also reduces the risk of certain types of cancer, including colon, basal cell, ovary and prostate cancers.
Reduces the risk of dementia: Health experts also say that drinking 1-3 glasses of wine per day is also linked with reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes: It is also believed that moderate consumption of red wine could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially in women.
Reduces the risk of depression: Another study that was done on middle-aged and elderly people revealed that those who drank 2-7 glasses of wine per week were less likely to be depressed.
Tip: Do talk to your doctor before consuming wine for its health benefits.