Red Wine – Common Health Issues of Consuming Red Wine

Red wine lovers are omnipresent across the globe who love to drink the wine to relax and enjoy some lovely time with family and friends.

What is Red Wine?

Red wine is a drink made with whole grapes by squeezing and fermenting them. There are different varieties and brands of red wine available in the market in varying taste and color. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Pinot noir are some varieties of red wine commonly available.

With just 12 to 15 % red wine alcohol percentage in it, red wine is considered a good source of antioxidants. Thus, the consumption of the drink in fair amounts shows several benefits to health. Red wine in moderate amounts is considered good for heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and so on. Thus, health experts suggest the consumption of red in moderate amounts.

6 Advantages Of Red Wine: Benefits of Red Wine

1. Blood pressure gets enhanced
2. Helps in the heart health
3. Red wine help control diabetes
4. Manages Cancer
5. Red wine benefits the skin
6. Enhances brain functions

10 Disadvantages of Consuming Red Wine: Red Wine Side Effects

It is rightly said that excess of anything is not good. Even in the case of red wine, the excess consumption of the liquid is not going to benefit anyone. And it is important for red wine lovers to understand the difference between moderate and excessive consumption since it is demarcated with a thin line.

Below are some disadvantages of excessive intake of red wine:

1. Cardiovascular issues

Although red wine is said to be good for your heart as it keeps your BP or blood pressure low and also lowers the cholesterol level. But excess drinking of this wine can cause certain fatal heart diseases, such as atrial fibrillation. So, although the moderate use of red wine decreases the risk of heart attack, excessive consumption of the same can prove fatal.

In fact, studies show that regular consumption of red wine increases the chances of getting the atrial fibrillation disease among people by 16%.

2. Cirrhosis or Liver Disease

Regular and prolonged consumption of red wine or other alcohol can also lead to severe issues in your liver such as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is caused by long-term liver damage due to several factors that may lead to scarring and failure of liver functions.

As per study, if someone consumes more red wine than the prescribed moderate level, it may enhance the chances of cirrhosis induced by alcohol. So, if your consumption of alcohol per day is more than one to one and half glasses (female) and one to two glasses (male), you may be in danger. Consuming excessive alcohol for continuous periods may prevent functions or bring it to halt. Liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol is a terminal condition that might cause death of the patient.

3. Condition of Alcohol Spectrum

Ladies who have conceived should abstain from consuming red wine and other alcoholic drinks because it may have enduring effects on their child. As per experts, unborn babies can have harmful side effects in case the pregnant mother consumes alcohol incessantly.

Some of the side effects may include:

• Odd features of face
• Child may be tiny in size as compared to normal babies
• Learning and behavior issues
• Many birth defects

A glass of red wine consumed occasionally may not cause much damage for the unborn child and the pregnant mother. But, doctors recommend ladies to avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy. So, despite red wine benefits for females, it should be avoided during pregnancy.

4. Enhanced Breast Cancer Risks

Females with history in the family of breast cancer should completely avoid alcohol or red wine even at a moderate level because it may increase the chances of getting breast cancer. This is because alcohol consumption raises the estrogen level and boosts the speed at which the tumor progresses.

5. Increases the risk of Esophageal cancer

Besides breast cancer, consumption of alcohol also augment the risk of esophageal and tongue cancer. Even consuming one glass of wine may impact severely on your health.

6. Wine enhances Sulfite Reactions

All kinds of wine, including organic ones, contain a certain quantity of sulfite. Thus, those of you sensitive to the substance can suffer from various issues like nausea, anaphylactic shock or even asthmatic attack due to consumption of wine.

7. Migraine

This is another condition that may trigger by consuming red wine among some people. Since red wine contains substances like phenolic flavonoids and tannins, which cause headache in many people.

8. Aggravates PMS

Consuming wine may also worsen the sign of PMS or premenstrual syndrome. This is because the hormonal changes which take place from the gut get inflamed because of direct contact to red wine or other alcoholic drinks and thereby worsens PMS.

9. Weight Gain

This is another issue that some people may face as too much consumption of wine and other alcoholic drinks may lead to gain in body weight.

10. Medicinal Reactions

People who are using certain prescribed medicines need to consult the doctor before drinking red wine as it may cause adverse reactions.