One study found that middle-aged Italian men who drank up to five glasses of wine a day—almost all of it red—tended to live longer than men who drank more or less alcohol.
Mediterranean diet
As the renowned medical journal Lancet points out, eating habits play a key role when it comes to Italians and longevity. A large part of the population can easily bring fresh and healthy food to the table, regardless of social status and income. This is what makes the difference.
It is important to note that although those drinking an average of 8g alcohol from wine per day lived about 5 years longer than those who didn't drink alcohol, this was not a very precise estimate: the researchers were confident the difference was somewhere in the range of 1.6 to 7.7 years.
While the rest of the world may consider drinking 'wine' as a luxury, in Italy, it is treated as an everyday custom. Lunch, dinner or dessert – Italians love to pair their meals with a hearty glass of vino. For centuries, perhaps even millennia, the people of the country have had an interest in winemaking.
In Italy – whether at home or at a restaurant – where there is dinner, there is wine. It's meant to enhance the taste of the food and it's considered an integral part of the meal – not a fancy treat. That's why wine is surprisingly inexpensive, and the “house wine” at an Italian restaurant is probably quite good.
Antioxidants in Italian wine are proven to stop bad cholesterol from accumulating, as well as lowering the risk of blood clots and diabetes. The procyanidins in red wine that promote a healthy heart also promote lower cholesterol.
The United States consumes the largest volume of wine of any country, at 33 million hectoliters in 2021. At 25.2 million hectoliters, France was the second leading consumer of wine worldwide.
"What is certain about wine and other types of alcohol is that drinking beyond moderation has clear impacts on a person's health," warns Dr. Septimus. "Regularly drinking more wine than recommended increases a person's risk of developing cancer, liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, sleep disorders and more."
Drinking a bottle of wine per day is not considered healthy by most standards. However, when does it morph from a regular, innocent occurrence into alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism? First, it's important to note that building tolerance in order to drink an entire bottle of wine is a definitive red flag.
So what explains the headache-free European wine drinking experience? It might be related to alcohol levels – European wines usually have less alcohol than American wines. So enjoy your wine whether you're home or abroad, and rest assured that it's the sulfites that keep your wine happy, healthy and delicious.
A compound found in red wine can help to combat the effects of aging, new research suggests. Resveratrol, which exists in the skin of red grapes and gives the fruit its color, could stop brain cells from breaking down as we get older, scientists claim.
Alcohol is linked to age in lots of ways. You have to be old enough to drink it legally, and once you are, it can age you faster than normal. Heavy drinking can have a direct effect on certain parts of your body and on your mental health as you get older. And it can have some unhealthy indirect effects, as well.
Asian Americans enjoy the longest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic group (87.3 years) in the U.S. today. Latinos enjoy the 2nd longest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic groups in the U.S. today. They live, on average to 83.5 years.
Asian-Americans top the list at 86.5 years, with Latinos following closely behind at 82.8 years. Third of the five groups are Caucasians, with an average life expectancy of about 78.9 years, followed by Native Americans at 76.9 years. The final group, African Americans, has a life expectancy of 74.6 years.
They prefer natural looks. They get a lot of sun exposure. They have a high vitamin intake and drink a lot of olive oil. They don't drink much alcohol.
Drinking wine every night can lead to weight gain, decreased immune function, and mental health issues [1]. Additionally, having more than a few drinks daily can affect liver health, resulting in liver damage or liver disease [2].
Drinking, even in moderate amounts, can still have catastrophic outcomes. It's safe to stick to a standard of no more than three glasses of wine per day, but limiting alcohol consumption may also promote more healthy living habits.
If a person drinks too much wine regularly or often indulges in binge drinking, then it can be considered alcohol abuse, especially if it affects the individual's overall health.
Experts say a a good maximum amount of wine for women would be a 5 oz glass of wine, and for men two 5 oz glasses of wine, no more than several times a week. Experts strongly advise women against having more than 3 drinks of wine per day, and for men, 4 drinks of wine per day.
Red Wine. Red wine is widely recognized as one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks out there. Poon notes that it's "relatively low in calories and also offers some health benefits."9 She adds that red wine is rich in antioxidants such as resveratrol and proanthocyanidins and can promote cardiovascular health.
The most enthusiastic wine drinkers are traditional wine-producing countries. France and Italy are high up on the list of drinking the most wine per person. But the number one spot, drinking most wine per person, is taken by Portugal, with 52 litres of wine per person and year.
What is the number 1 wine in the world? The best overall wine of the world is Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2016, renowned for its rich, aromatic aromas, full body and elegant, layered notes.
The healthiest wine in the world is the robust red wine from Sardinia (one of the Blue Zones locations) called Cannonau. Sardinians are known to drink 3 to 4 small (3-ounce) glasses of Cannonau a day on average, spread out between breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late afternoon social hour in the village.