Red Wine and Grape Juice Alcohol may raise levels of good HDL cholesterol by as much as 5 to 15 percent, research shows — and red wine is particularly beneficial because its polyphenol antioxidants may also lower LDL levels.
Pinot noirs contain a healthy dose of several antioxidants, including anthocyanins and procyanidins, making it one of the best red wines to lower cholesterol. Four ounces of pinot noir also delivers roughly 640 micrograms of resveratrol, which is more than most red wines.
Myth: Red wine lowers cholesterol.
According to a study published in Clinical Nutrition, red wine increases good (HDL) cholesterol. On the flip side, nonalcoholic red wine decreases levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol.
As it turns out, white wine could help keep your heart healthy as well. A recent study found that red wine and white wine lowered LDL cholesterol levels in participants after one year. While wine consumption was associated with lower levels of this bad cholesterol, it did not raise levels of good cholesterol or HDL.
Alcohol Boosts 'Good' Cholesterol
In particular, red wine might offer the greatest benefit for lowering heart disease risk and death because it contains higher levels of natural plant chemicals -- such as resveratrol -- that have antioxidant properties and might protect artery walls.
To lower your cholesterol levels, the American Heart Association suggests adhering to a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated and trans fats. Drinks to avoid that are high in saturated and trans fats include the following: Tea or Coffee with added creamers, whipped cream, or high-fat milk.
According to Syn, if you're also looking to curtail the amount of calories you're consuming from wine, then dry sparkling and white wines are a good bet. "I recommend brut Champagne, cava, pinot grigio, and sauvignon blanc. These have lower sugar content, which contributes to their lower calorie count," she says.
Here are the lowest-sugar wines in the game: Dry reds, which often have under one gram of sugar per five-ounce pour: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah/Shiraz. Dry whites, which have between one and 1.5 grams of sugar per five ounces: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Viognier.
Red wine is widely believed to be a healthier choice than white wine, but this is based on limited data and speculative reports, according to experts quoted in a January 28, 2022 Wall Street Journal article.
Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods
Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your LDL cholesterol.
While coffee does not contain cholesterol, it can affect cholesterol levels. The diterpenes in coffee suppress the body's production of substances involved in cholesterol breakdown, causing cholesterol to increase. Specifically, coffee diterpenes may cause an increase in total cholesterol and LDL levels.
Red wine can be the alcohol of choice as it possesses antioxidant properties. Studies reveal that moderate consumption of red wines can not only lower cholesterol levels but help prevent certain heart diseases. Heavy drinking can be counterproductive as it can increase bad cholesterol levels.
As for how olive oil and cholesterol are linked, olive oil is high not only in antioxidants but also polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are the healthier kinds of fats. These fats have been shown not only to improve cholesterol levels but also decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Tomatoes are a significant source of a plant compound called lycopene, which reduces levels of LDL cholesterol. Research shows that the body absorbs more lycopene if the tomatoes are processed or cooked, so drink tomato juice and add tomatoes to your minestrone soup as well.
Port and other dessert wines should be avoided by anyone trying to limit their sugar intake. While Port being high in sugar may not come as much of a surprise (after all, it tastes sweet), sometimes a wine's sugar level does not match its sweetness.
Un'sweet Pinot Grigio
For special occasions, you can't miss this crisp and smooth Pinot Grigio. It tastes incredibly luxurious with notes of sweet pear, honeysuckle, and fig, and it also happens to be another totally sugar free wine on top of being low calorie. You can learn more about this low calorie white wine here.
Pure forms of alcohol like whiskey, gin, tequila, rum and vodka are all completely sugar-free whereas wines and light beer like Sapporo or Budvar have a minimal carb content.
In moderate amounts, red wine is commonly linked to healthy cholesterol levels. But drinking more hard liquor, beer, mixed drinks, and excess red wine has a negative impact on your cholesterol levels. At Westmed Family Healthcare, we want you to understand the connection between alcohol and cholesterol.
Cutting down on alcohol can help you to lower your cholesterol levels. It can improve your heart health and help prevent heart disease in other ways too, by helping to look after your liver, your blood pressure, your weight and your waist line. There's lots of bonuses to cutting back.
They define moderation as one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men. Also, consider that a standard glass of wine is 5 ounces, but many people pour more. Given that information, if you drink a bottle of wine per day, you're already well above this recommendation.
Cholesterol is often high due to excessive saturated and trans fat consumption. There are certain drinks that can help maintain an ideal cholesterol level. Some of the best drinks for cholesterol management include green tea, pomegranate juice, citrus juice, soy milk, plant-based smoothies, and red wine.
Drink Lukewarm Water
Drinking lukewarm water after consuming oily food helps soothe and activate your digestive system. Water acts as a carrier for nutrients and waste products (2). Drinking hot water helps break down the nutrients into their digestible form.
To lower your cholesterol, focus on foods high in fiber, like canned or dried beans, lentils, fruits and vegetables (fresh or frozen), as well as whole grains like quinoa, oatmeal, brown rice and whole-wheat bread.