Non-Alcoholic Wine Also Benefits Heart Health Like Regular Wine

Lower Risk of Heart Disease... When Consuming Alcohol, Losses Outweigh Gains

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[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] Research has found that non-alcoholic wine is beneficial for heart health just like regular wine.

Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK analyzed data from 446,439 men and women aged 40 to 69. The aim was to understand how moderate alcohol consumption affects health.

The analysis showed that those who drank up to 11 glasses of wine per week had a 40% lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. Interestingly, the same effect was observed in people who regularly consumed non-alcoholic wine.

This analysis suggests that the positive effects of wine come from the grapes themselves, not from the alcohol.

Grapes are rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols strengthen the function of the heart’s inner lining and raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as “good cholesterol.”

According to the researchers, even moderate consumption of beer, cider, or spirits increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.

The UK National Health Service (NHS) recommends that adults do not consume more than 14 units of alcohol per week. A unit is a measure of alcohol content equivalent to 10g of pure alcohol. One small glass of wine or half a pint (about 500cc) of beer counts as one unit.

The researchers followed the health status of the participants for seven years. They found that those who drank 4 to 5 glasses of champagne or white wine, or 8 to 11 glasses of red wine per week had a lower risk of ischemic heart disease. The same results were confirmed in those who drank non-alcoholic wine.

Rudolf Schutte, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology at Anglia Ruskin University’s Medical School, said, “It cannot be denied that alcoholic beverages made from grapes have positive effects,” but warned, “However, when consuming alcohol, the losses outweigh the gains.”

Even small amounts of beer, cider, or spirits increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. The researchers emphasized again that alcohol in any form is harmful to health.

This research will be published in ‘Clinical Nutrition,’ the official journal of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN).