Cheers! A cheeky glass or two of red wine over Christmas could actually be good for you, says expert

Dec. 19, 2023 - PRLog -- Every Christmas, there are numerous warnings in the press and on social media about the dangers of consuming too much food and alcohol. However, a leading medical expert says red wine not only contains a range of vitamins and minerals, but moderate consumption may potentially reduce your risk of many serious health conditions, including heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes and dementia.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: 'A paper published in the journal Molecules reveals that several studies show evidence that light–moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a higher level of HDL "good" cholesterol. It also helps prevent artery damage from high levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol. Red wine may also improve the function of cells lining the blood vessels, keeping blood circulation flowing smoothly.

'Light to moderate drinking of red wine has been proposed as a possible explanation for the epidemiological phenomenon known as "The French Paradox".  The French Paradox is that France's population shows lower coronary heart disease incidence and mortality rates compared with other Western populations, despite the fact their diets contain higher amounts of total fat and saturated fatty acids. The study concludes that "a moderate intake of red wine may produce cardioprotective effects".

'Red wine is a good source of antioxidants. A study in the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences" confirms the theory that antioxidant compounds in red wine called "polyphenols" can block the formation of cancer cells and inhibit the growth of tumours. Sadly for white wine drinkers, it also confirmed a previous hypothesis that red wine has stronger anti-cancer activities than white wine.

'Obviously, the key word when talking about the consumption of wine, or any other alcohol, is "moderation". Every benefit I've discussed is counteracted by too much alcohol. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to heart disease, liver disease and increased cancer risk.

'If people are concerned about their cholesterol levels as we approach Christmas, it's best to get them checked. With GP surgeries extremely busy at this time of year, it's important to recognise that there are alternatives. London Medical Laboratory's revolutionary and convenient home finger-prick Cholesterol Profile test measures total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol, HDL "good" cholesterol, non-HDL (a newly adopted, more accurate, measure) and other key markers. It can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 120 selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/cholesterol-profile