Good news for white wine drinkers: leading researchers now believe that white wine is just as healthy as its red counterpart. Recent studies show that white wine has similar cardioprotective effects as red, helping prevent heart attacks and other major health problems associated with the heart, kidneys and blood vessels.
Interestingly, white wine’s cardio-boosting qualities don’t come from the same compounds that have made red wine so acclaimed for its health benefits. Because red wine is extracted from the skin and pulp of grapes and white from only the pulp, white wine contains little resveratrol, the antioxidant with antiaging and heart-healthy properties. Turns out white wine has two strong antioxidants of its own, tyrosol and hydroxytyosol, also found in olive oil, that aren’t present in red wine. Experts believe this is what makes white wine, and the Mediterranean diet in general, so good for the heart.
And it gets better! Researchers have also found that white wine activates the Sirtuin gene which helps slow the aging process. It has also been shown to help prevent and regulate diabetes and ongoing research looks promising that it may also boost the immune system and act as an antiviral.
So though red wine will always be my favorite, white’s stock definitely has risen. Moderation is unfortunately the key though when it comes to wine’s benefits. Health experts define moderate drinking as two 5 ounce glasses of wine a day for men and one for women.
