More and more people are choosing to drink a little wine every day, and wine is also considered a more nourishing type of alcoholic beverage. Do you know the benefits of moderate wine consumption? And who should not drink wine? Let's take a look below.
Benefits of Moderate Wine Consumption
1. You have stronger antiviral capabilities
A British study shows that people who drink a small glass of wine every day have a lower chance of being infected with *Helicobacter pylori* compared to others. *Helicobacter pylori* is usually a major cause of gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancer. Another study in Spain shows that if people are frequently exposed to contaminated food, drinking half a glass of red wine daily can effectively prevent food poisoning caused by bacteria such as *Salmonella*.
2. You are definitely younger than others
Wine has anti-aging effects. Extracts in wine can control skin aging. The beauty benefits of wine come from its rich content of polyphenols and resveratrol. These ingredients have super antioxidant functions, which can improve the body's metabolism, lighten pigmentation, and make the skin fairer and smoother.
3. You definitely won't gain weight
You are fat because you don't drink enough wine (just kidding, maybe it's also because you're too lazy to exercise). Wine contains phenolic substances, as well as vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotene. These substances have antioxidant effects, which can increase the proportion of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) in the body, maintain normal metabolism, and prevent the body from becoming bloated with age. In addition, wine contains a large amount of iron, which has the effect of activating blood and warming the body, thus effectively reducing water accumulation in the body and achieving weight loss through reducing swelling.
4. You can climb five flights of stairs in one go without effort
Drinking a moderate amount of red wine daily can strengthen bones. A study from Tufts University in the United States found that men and women who drink a moderate amount of wine have higher bone density than those who do not. Therefore, while choosing Gaizhonggai high-calcium tablets (wink), you can also consider drinking a glass of red wine daily, so you can climb five flights of stairs in one go without effort.
Four Groups of People Unsuitable for Drinking Alcohol
1. Children
"Children should not drink alcohol" is a common consensus. Indeed, drinking alcohol is very harmful to children's developing brains. Because a child's brain is still in the developmental stage, consuming alcoholic beverages, including wine, can easily affect brain development, leading to a decrease in IQ and adverse consequences such as distractibility and poor memory.
2. Patients with Liver Disease
Generally speaking, moderate wine consumption is beneficial for healthy people because the liver can metabolize and detoxify alcohol in the body. However, liver function in patients with liver disease is more or less impaired, and their ability to detoxify alcohol is weaker than that of healthy people. Therefore, patients with liver disease are not suitable for drinking wine.
3. Pregnant Women
Some sommeliers believe that a small amount of wine consumption during pregnancy is harmless to the mother and the fetus. However, other medical researchers warn expectant mothers: even a small amount of alcohol in a pregnant woman's body can harm the fetus, especially the brainstem nerves, which can easily lead to postnatal intellectual impairment, reduced IQ, and the development of ADHD.
4. Patients with Stomach Diseases
Although wine can help protect the stomach and aid digestion, patients with gastrointestinal diseases, especially severe stomach diseases, are not suitable for drinking wine, as it can easily irritate the stomach and worsen the condition.
Foods to Avoid with Wine
1. Avoid Accompaniments with Vinegar
Generally speaking, salad does not affect the flavor of wine, but if it is dressed with vinegar, it can dull the palate, making the wine lose its vitality and taste flat. Lemon water is a good choice because its citric acid can harmonize with the character of the wine.
Cheese and wine are a "natural match," just be careful not to pair spicy cheeses with light-bodied wines, and vice versa.
2. Avoid Strongly Spicy and Pungent Foods
Pairing wine with spicy or strongly aromatic foods can be challenging, but pairing them with wines that are spicy or have particularly rich fruit aromas can be considered finding the right "partner."
Chocolate can sometimes have an adverse effect on the taste of wine, but some people say it can be successfully paired with aged Cabernet Sauvignon. The Italian wine, Lambrusco di Sorbara, pairs especially well with chocolate, especially dark chocolate. This wine has a delicate and crisp fruitiness, and its恰到好处的 (just right) natural acidity is enough to balance the richness and sweetness of the chocolate, while also keeping your mouth feeling comfortably fresh and clean.