Cheers to that.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Public Health found that moderate wine intake can be a boon for longevity and biological aging, or the age of our cells and organs.
But before you open another bottle, there is a catch about overall wine consumption.
Moderate wine intake as part of a Mediterranean diet has been associated with several cardiovascular benefits, despite ongoing debate about the overall health benefits of drinking wine and alcohol in general.
The research team decided to look into the relationship between wine and overall health, for both biological and chronological age.
While chronological age is how many years we’ve been alive, biological age is a better determinant of health risks and how long we’ll live.
Researchers divided 22,495 adults into five groups based on drinking habits: abstainers, former drinkers, moderate according to national guidelines (two drinks for men and one for women per day), moderate according to Mediterranean Diet criteria and heavy drinkers.
Men who consumed wine at levels consistent with the Mediterranean Diet (approximately 125 to 500 milliliters per day) showed slower biological aging compared to abstainers.
The strongest effect of biological aging being reduced was observed after roughly one to two glasses, by approximately 0.34 years.
While moderate wine drinking has positive effects, excessive wine consumption or any alcohol consumption cancels out these effects.
Only a significant difference in biological age was noticed in men who were moderate drinkers, most likely due to how women metabolize alcohol differently and experience a stronger physiological effect.
The study also noted that the slowed-down effects of biological aging from wine were noticeable across various levels of commitment to a Mediterranean diet, of which the vegetable and healthy fat intake has also been associated with a slower rate of aging.
While federal guidelines for alcohol consumption were changed to recommend moderate alcohol consumption for better social relationships, the jury is still out on whether any alcohol is actually good for health.
Healthcare experts do agree that every person’s relationship with alcohol can vary, and that while no alcohol is best, occasionally indulging in a glass of wine could be beneficial.
The researchers believe that the effects of wine on aging are from bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, powerhouse antioxidants that reduce inflammation.
And while the study was promising in terms of healthy aging, the results don’t prove causation and further research is needed to investigate how lifestyle habits affect the aging process.
