Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks. Any links between red wine and fewer heart attacks aren’t completely understood. But part of the benefit might be that antioxidants in red wine may increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and protect against cholesterol buildup. Health care providers don’t recommend that you start drinking alcohol for heart benefits, especially if you have a family history of alcohol use disorder. Too much alcohol can have many harmful effects on the body.
Drink in moderation — or not at all”
Mayo Clinic
If you already enjoy a glass of red wine with your evening meal, drinking it in moderation may improve your heart health. The potential heart-healthy benefits of red wine and other alcoholic drinks continue to be studied. Those who drink moderate amounts of alcohol, including red wine, seem to have a lower risk of heart disease.
However, it’s important to understand that studies comparing moderate drinkers to nondrinkers might overestimate the benefits of moderate drinking because nondrinkers might already have health problems.
