Blood Pressure

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Red Wine

171.   There is good evidence that drinking only moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly red wine, lowers BP and decreases the risk of heart disease (and stroke) by 40-70%. Alcohol opens up arteries and increases blood flow. Interestingly, teetotallers tend to have slightly higher BP than moderate drinkers who take one or two drinks only. Red wine should be preferred over other alcoholic drinks like liquor and beer because of its health benefits.

172.   Red wine contains potassium, iron and antioxidants which protect the heart by breaking down bad cholesterol that can clot arteries. Antioxidants, like reserveratrol, in red wine are believed to act like scavengers, protecting the heart from inflammation caused by reactive particles, called “free radicals” which can damage healthy cells.

173.   Wine contains more than 600 different components. Reserveratrol and two other antioxidants (saponin and tyrosol) in red wine have been shown to reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels and boost good HDL cholesterol, which helps unclog arteries. Reserveratrol has also anti-thrombotic properties, i.e. it prevents platelets (blood cells) from sticking to each other and forming blood clots.

Notes – (i) Moderate daily alcohol intake means no more than 2 pegs (30 ml each) of liquor, 2 small glasses (120 ml each) of wine and 2 cans (360 ml each) of beer. (ii)Liquor e.g. whiskey etc. may be called a food because it provides energy, but its value as a source of nutrients, compared to say red wine, is nil. Alcohol, in fact, depletes the body of many precious nutrients including vitamin B1, zinc and magnesium. (iii) It is recommended that you nibble some nuts etc with your red wine. Drinking alcohol on empty stomach can raise the BP over those who habitually nibbled while drinking. (iv) There are clearly no recommendations to start drinking, if you are a teetotaller. There are less toxic ways to get the benefits of antioxidants and polyphenols through exercise, fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs etc without running the risk of addiction to alcohol. (v) Alcohol affects people in different ways, based on age, sex, genes etc., e.g. while red wine may protect a 65 year old man with high cholesterol, it may offer no help to a healthy 20-year old.