Rumor debunked: Drinking wine can protect your heart!

In daily life, wine has been endowed with many magical effects, the most well-known of which is "drinking wine can protect the heart." Many people believe that drinking wine in moderation can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and even regard it as a healthy lifestyle. However, is there any scientific basis for this statement? Can drinking wine really protect the heart? This article will take you to find out!

1. The Origin of Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes, and its history can be traced back thousands of years. In ancient times, wine was not only used in religious ceremonies and social activities, but was also given a variety of medicinal values. For example, in ancient Greece and Rome, wine was believed to have the effect of promoting digestion, enhancing physical strength and prolonging life.

Modern medical research has also found that wine contains a variety of bioactive ingredients, such as polyphenols, resveratrol and anthocyanins, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation effects. Therefore, wine is considered to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health. However, whether these health benefits are sufficient to support the claim that "drinking wine can protect the heart" is still a question that needs to be explored in depth.

1. Active ingredients in wine

The main active ingredients of wine are polyphenolic compounds, including resveratrol, anthocyanins and flavonoids. These ingredients have shown significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies, which can reduce the damage of free radicals to cells and inhibit inflammatory responses, thus having a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

Resveratrol: Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound that is mainly found in grape skins. Studies have shown that resveratrol has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation effects, and can reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis.

Anthocyanin: Anthocyanin is a natural pigment with strong antioxidant capacity that can protect vascular endothelial cells and improve blood circulation.

Flavonoids: Flavonoids have multiple biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipid-regulating effects.

The presence of these active ingredients makes wine considered to be beneficial to cardiovascular health. However, the actual effects of these ingredients in the human body still need further verification.

2. The relationship between wine and cardiovascular disease

In recent years, a number of scientific studies have explored the relationship between wine and cardiovascular disease. The results of these studies are inconsistent, with some studies finding that moderate wine drinking is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, while others have found no significant association.

1. Research supporting the idea that wine protects the heart

The French paradox

The French paradox refers to the low incidence of cardiovascular disease in the French despite their high-fat diet. Some studies suggest that this may be related to the French habit of drinking wine in moderation. The polyphenols in wine are believed to reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Epidemiological studies

Some epidemiological studies have found that moderate wine drinking is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the incidence of cardiovascular disease in people who drank wine in moderation was significantly lower than that of non-drinkers.

2. Questioning the research on wine's protective effect on the heart

Lack of causality

Although some epidemiological studies have found that moderate wine drinking is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, most of these studies are observational studies and cannot prove causality. In other words, these studies can only show that there is an association between moderate wine drinking and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but cannot prove that drinking wine is the direct cause of the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Potential risks of alcohol

Alcohol itself has a variety of negative health effects, including liver damage, increased risk of certain cancers, and alcohol dependence. So even if the polyphenols in wine could benefit cardiovascular health, the potential risks of alcohol could offset those benefits.

Individual Differences

The effects of wine on cardiovascular health vary from person to person and are influenced by individual genes, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Some people may respond better to the polyphenols in wine, while others may not experience a noticeable effect.

3. Why can’t drinking wine directly protect the heart?

Although polyphenols in wine have shown positive effects on cardiovascular health in laboratory studies, drinking wine does not directly protect the heart in humans. Here are a few key reasons why:

1. Negative effects of alcohol

Alcohol is a toxic substance that has multiple negative effects on the liver, heart, and nervous system. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, and certain cancers. Even moderate drinking may increase certain health risks, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

2. Lack of high-quality evidence

Currently, most of the studies supporting the idea that wine can protect the heart are observational studies, lacking the support of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Randomized controlled trials are the gold standard for verifying causal relationships, but there are currently no large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trials to prove that drinking wine can directly protect the heart.

3. Impact of lifestyle factors

The occurrence of cardiovascular disease is a complex process involving multiple factors, including genes, lifestyle and environmental factors. Even if you drink wine in moderation, if you do not pay attention to comprehensive improvements in your lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, eating a healthy diet and exercising in moderation, the risk of cardiovascular disease is still high.

4. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the most effective way to protect your heart

Although the polyphenols in wine have a certain positive effect on cardiovascular health, drinking wine alone cannot effectively protect the heart. Protecting the heart requires comprehensive lifestyle changes, including healthy diet, moderate exercise, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, and mental health.

1. Healthy diet

Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet is a dietary pattern that is high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil, with moderate intake of fish and poultry and low intake of red and processed meat. Studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Reduce salt and sugar intake

A high-salt and high-sugar diet increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, which in turn increases the incidence of cardiovascular disease. It is recommended to limit salt intake to no more than 5 grams per day and reduce the intake of processed foods and sugary drinks.

2. Exercise moderately

Moderate exercise is an important means of protecting the heart. It is recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, etc. In addition, increasing muscle strength training can also help increase the basal metabolic rate and improve cardiovascular health.

3. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption

Smoking and excessive drinking are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and protect heart health.

4. Mental Health

Long-term mental stress, anxiety, depression and other psychological problems increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Managing stress and maintaining mental health through meditation, yoga, psychological counseling, etc. can help protect heart health.

V. Conclusion

Polyphenols in wine have a certain positive effect on cardiovascular health, however, the benefits cannot offset the harm caused by alcohol. The occurrence of cardiovascular disease is a complex process involving multiple factors, and it cannot be completely prevented by relying solely on a certain drink or ingredient. Only through a reasonable diet, moderate exercise and good living habits can we truly stay away from cardiovascular disease and embrace a healthy life.

[Fund Project] Shanghai Rehabilitation Medicine Association "Health Management Research Fund" Science Popularization Project (No.: 2024JGKP03), Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital Science Popularization Talent Capacity Improvement Project (No.: PRYKP202501)

[Author] Shen Yuhua Chen Ye Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital