Why Is Red Wine Calorific?
Red wine is an alcoholic beverage popular across the world, primarily derived from fermented grapes. It is also publicized in both health and social media to be of several health benefits. Depending upon the grapes, or the grape blend, the wine variety usually obtained changes in both the color and in terms of flavor. This is because red wine is a drink that is prepared only from red or purple grapefruits. The drink may also incorporate some amounts of fruit-based antioxidants. Most varieties of wine tend to be prepared globally from a single type of common grape, while others would be a blend of several varieties in some countries.
From a nutritional perspective, just like in the case of most other alcoholic beverages, when an individual consumes red wine even in small amounts, the calories add up just as quickly. However, red wine is usually recommended to be a part of a balanced diet when individuals consume the drink in moderation. There is also some preliminary medical research to support the possible health claims that are associated with red wine.
What Is the Nutritional Content of Red Wine?
According to the information given by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and for the recommended serving size of red wine by health experts for around one glass (five ounces or 147 grams), the listed below are the nutrition facts:
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Fiber: 0 ounces.
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Sugars: 0.04 ounces.
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Protein: 0.003 ounces.
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Fat: 0 ounces
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Sodium: 0 ounces.
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Carbohydrates: 0.14 ounces.
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Total Calories: 125 kilocalories.
An individual would be consuming just about 0.14 ounces of carbohydrates and around 0.04 ounces of naturally occurring sugar, from a single drink (single glass of red wine). Unlike fresh grapefruits, the red wine drink does not contain any fiber as such. The glycemic load of red wine is estimated to be zero. There is neither fat nor any protein (negligible) content in red wine.
It is known that wine in any form is not a good source of even trace amounts of micronutrients. Hence, it is just a nutrition myth that red wine consumption would give the essential micronutrients.
Though a single glass of red wine may yield some traces of manganese (ten percent of the daily value needed), and trace amounts of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, one is unlikely to gain any health benefit from these quantities or a single drink. A five-ounce serving of red wine is high in calories with nearly an estimated 125 kilocalories. Therefore, individuals who look forward to sustaining a healthy weight or who want to lose weight the healthy way ideally should refrain from caloric drinks that may predispose them to weight gain.
What Are the Possible Health Benefits of Red Wine?
The possible health benefits of red wine are as follows:
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Improves Cardiovascular Health: According to current nutrition research, Resveratrol, the main flavonoid compound found in red wine because of the grapefruits, may neutralize the harmful free oxygen radicals and help improve cellular well-being, while also further fighting the overall risk of chronic diseases.
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Beneficial in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A major research study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal in 2015 states that consumption of moderate amounts of red wine can aid in controlling hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) in type 2 diabetes patients. In the long-term observational study that spanned around two years, individuals who had type 2 diabetes, followed a Mediterranean diet, and consumed a glass of red wine daily were much less predisposed to cardiometabolic risks.
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Prevent Neurocognitive Decline: Research shows that red wine consumption can certainly be capable of preventing neurocognitive decline (a decline in cognition domains, such as language, memory, complex attention, learning, social cognition, and executive functions) as well as promoting neurologic health in individuals due to its antioxidant nature.
Are Any Adverse Effects Possible From Red Wine?
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Alcohol in any form, be it red wine, is likely to be a cause of allergy for individuals suffering from certain respiratory conditions or those with food sensitivity reactions or alcohol allergies.
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If a person or their loved ones experience allergic symptoms, such as perioral symptoms of inflammation, skin hives, swelling of the lips, flushing, and anaphylaxis, due to alcohol intolerance, after consuming red wine, they must immediately seek medical attention without delay from their professional healthcare provider or allergist.
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For Individuals who are taking systemic medications and for those with food allergies or fruit allergies, it is always advisable to consult the healthcare provider (dietician or nutritionist) to help them get personalized care and evaluation before including red wine in their diet form.
What Are the Availability and Storage Details of Red Wine?
Red wine is available throughout the year, and many of its varieties are available depending on local availability and can be usually consumed at any time of year. The wine is stored in a temperature-controlled area for some time to promote the aging of the wine for improved flavors.
When storing red wine at home, it is best to always ideally preserve it in a cool, dark, and dry place, away from heat or humid conditions. The ideal wine storage temperature is deemed to be approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit, though the exact best temperature would vary depending on the wine one purchases. A person can also store their bottles horizontally in a rack to ensure that the cork of the bottle remains moistened continuously by the wine.
When serving, red wine should be kept slightly cool at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. An opened bottle of wine can be either corked or closed by using the stopper. One can then store it in the refrigerator where it will usually hold its flavor for around three to five days.
Conclusion:
Though red wine, specifically may provide certain health benefits, the National Institutes of Health usually advises caution, because moderate drinking of wine is defined as up to one drink per day for women and one to two drinks per day for men and should not be exceeded to avoid any risk. This is because the wine is known to cause side effects of drowsiness, lack of attention or focus. Individuals who are dependent on alcohol further may be prone easily to alcohol abuse disorder (AUD) with difficulty in cutting back on their drinking intake.
