Who knew that the sips that follow actually do pack a myriad of health benefits! Ongoing and recent studies of the health benefits of alcoholic beverages, most notably wine, have yielded results showing the positive effects of consumption on aging, cancer prevention, longevity, and overall well-being. Wine, consumed in moderation, has been shown as the leading alcoholic beverage in terms of health benefits. So read on and drink up!

The volume of studies conducted on the health benefits of wine in large part originated from the “French Paradox,” or the observation that although French and Americans have similar high-fat diets, the French have a much lower rate of cardiovascular disease. Researchers speculate that this is because the French consume much higher amounts of wine than we do. Serge Renaud, the original researcher of the French Paradox, has put forth a new study that offers more evidence supporting that moderate wine consumption is associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Renaud’s study compared daily, moderate drinkers who consumed mostly wine (two to three glasses a day) to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.

The study showed that moderate wine consumption was associated with a 30 percent reduction in the death rate from all causes, a 35 percent reduction in death rates from cardiovascular disease, and an 18 to 24 percent reduction in death rates from cancer. “The results of the present study,” the researchers write, “appear to confirm the speculation that the so-called French Paradox is due, at least in part, to the regular consumption of wine.”

Many researchers believe that this lowered risk for cardiovascular disease has to do with the consumption of wine during meal times. A new study from Switzerland identifies a mechanism for how alcohol favorably affects arterial muscle cells. According to the study, when alcohol is consumed around mealtime it reduces the proliferation of smooth muscle cells within the arteries, a key element in the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis commonly leads to heart attacks and strokes.

The study further shows that the moderate consumption of wine while eating a high-fat meal resulted in a 20 percent decrease in the growth of arterial muscle cells. Several researchers have suggested that the apparent health benefits of wine ingested at mealtime may be due to the ability of alcohol and other phenolic compounds in it to counteract the adverse effects of fatty foods during digestion. An Israeli study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that drinking red wine with meals resulted in a 20 percent reduction in the development of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Further, a Dutch study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that alcohol consumed with a meal may prevent blood clotting triggered by fat.

The benefits of wine are not derived only from the alcohol in it. Wine contains flavanoids and tannins that have long been regarded as contributors to heart health. As compared to other alcoholic beverages, wine wins when it comes to overall increased health benefits. While some researchers believe that all alcoholic beverages provide equal benefit, several scientists believe wine offers benefits in addition to its ethyl alcohol component. In the past few years, researchers have studied the antioxidant and protective effects of wine compounds. Several phenolic compounds in wine (such as quercetin, epicatechin and resveratrol) prevent atherosclerosis and act as antioxidants to prevent the breakdown of LDL cholesterol into plaque in the arteries. Since 1991 over three dozen studies have provided preliminary evidence that wine phenolics have positive health effects.

The benefits of moderate wine consumption go beyond heart health. New research from Harvard University studied more than 81,000 women and found that an increase in fluid intake significantly reduces risk for kidney stones and that risk reduction was greatest for wine compared with other beverages. Out of 17 beverages, including tea, coffee, fruit juices, milk and water, wine was associated with the highest reduction in risk — 59 percent. A similar study conducted in 1996, found the same risk reduction in men — 39 percent.

As if you needed further encouragement to grab a glass of vino, moderate wine consumption is also associated with a decreased risk of stroke. A 16 year Danish study that followed the stroke incidence of over 13,300 Danes concluded that the intake of wine is correlated with lower stroke risk. The study states that, compared with abstainers, individuals who said they drank wine on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis had a 16 percent, 34 percent, and 32 percent reduced risk of stroke, respectively.

Some of the most respected population studies find that consuming wine is associated with an increased life expectancy. Researchers report that although substantial decreases in mortality risk for moderate drinkers can be attributed to reduced risk of heart disease, this factor alone does not entirely account for their favorable longevity. Moderate drinkers compared to abstainers, both male and female, appear to be at lower risk for all causes of death, including cancer and other chronic diseases. Several studies with similar findings led the American Heart Association to state in 1996, “The lowest mortality occurs in those who consume one or two drinks per day.” Due in large part to the myriad of studies showing the positive health benefits of wine, major public health organizations and governments around the world now officially recognize that moderation can be part of a healthful diet. The World Health Organization, the United States government, the United Kingdom’s government and the American Heart Association are among the health policy leaders that have recently issued balanced statements highlighting scientific findings that associate myriad health benefits with moderate consumption. Vino lovers around the world rejoice! (In moderation, of course). Raise your glasses and cheers to your health!