No, Red Wine Isn’t Actually Good for You

You may have heard that alcohol is good for your heart, but is it really? We may picture someone living on the Mediterranean, sipping red wine by the beach and eating healthful foods, but is this a realistic picture of health?

Unfortunately, experts have debated this issue for decades—and they have not conclusively proven that alcohol benefits the heart.

There is a lot of evidence to the contrary, though. Read on for details.

Alcohol’s Effects on the Heart Have Not Been Studied Enough

Cedars-Sinai cites Dr. Martha Gulati, who is the director of Preventive Cardiology in the Smidt Heart Institute at their healthcare organization. Dr. Gulati stresses that the information we have about alcohol and heart health isn’t based on clinical trials, which could give concrete results. “These are observational studies. It may be that those who drank wine in these studies were healthier in other ways, such as adhering to a healthier diet.”

Many Factors Affect Heart Health

A number of factors can affect someone’s heart health, but at this point, we know that alcohol is not required to maintain a healthy heart. 

Hopkins Medicine speculates on income and lifestyle as potential variables: “Perhaps people who sip red wine have higher incomes, which tend to be associated with more education and greater access to healthier foods.”

Advocates for drinking red wine might cite the antioxidants—and it’s true that antioxidants have a number of health benefits. However, antioxidants can be consumed from many other types of foods, including chocolate, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more.

Alcohol Increases Risks for Other Health Problems

Drinking any type of alcohol is associated with the following health issues:

• many types of cancers

• high blood pressure

• heart disease

• liver disease

• stroke

• digestive issues

• a weakened immune system

• mental health struggles

The risks increase the more a person drinks. To keep your heart (and the rest of your body) healthy, experts recommend abstaining from alcohol or consuming as little as possible.

For help moderating your alcohol use, contact LEAF at (607) 432-0090. Our team can connect you with local resources for a healthy lifestyle.

Sources:

Cedars-Sinai. “Everyday Health: Is Alcohol Good for Your Heart?,” March 14, 2024. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/everyday-health-is-alcohol-good-for-your-heart/.

CDC. “Alcohol Use and Your Health.” December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Alcohol and Heart Health: Separating Fact from Fiction,” n.d. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/alcohol-and-heart-health-separating-fact-from-fiction