Wine is an ancient drink going back for at least four thousand years. We can safely say it’s been around since the earliest civilizations, and it’s a critical part of the famously healthy Mediterranean diet. Drinking wine in moderation is even beneficial, and it’s fun too! Wine brings people together!
The problem is, wine can also be harmful to your health, and some people are more at risk than others. If you notice this while drinking wine, stop. You might be sensible to sulfites! And that’s not a good thing. Read more about it below.
People with asthma might not take wine well.
Here’s the deal. Wine contains sulfites, and we’ll talk about these compounds in a second. What matters most right now is that, although most people will not react to sulfites, people with asthma might have sulfites sensitivity. They can experience shortness of breath, agitation and other less than desirable symptoms.
If you drink wine and start feeling a shortness of breath, chest pain or a massive headache, you might want to stop drinking wine and drink some water instead. If the symptoms are too aggressive, consider talking to a doctor. Allergic reactions to wine can be pretty severe!
What are sulfites, anyway?
Sulfites are a natural compound made of two oxygen atoms and one sulfur. The molecule is a natural byproduct of alcoholic fermentation, so all boozy beverages, from wine to beer, naturally have some sulfites.
Sulfites, though, are also used intentionally during the winemaking process. The compound can be sprayed straight into the vineyards to manage pests, and it’s often used to sterilize the grape juice before fermentation. Winemakers can add a bit more sulfites to the wine before bottling to give it more stability and longer shelf life.
The thing with sulfites is that wine is not the right drink for you if you’re sensitive to them. The good news? Some types of wine have very few sulfites, and they say so on the label. Try these instead if you feel you and sulfites don’t get along all that well.
Benefits of drinking wine in moderation
Now that we’ve talked about wine and why it might cause you allergic reactions, let’s mention a few benefits of drinking wine in moderation. After all, wine is not the enemy here; in fact, it might be just what you were looking for!
Wine has extraordinary amounts of antioxidants, particles that bind with scavenging free radicals in your bloodstream, responsible for premature aging and other adverse conditions.
Wine consumption might boost the levels of ‘good’ high-density cholesterol in your blood, lowering in the process the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol.
Consuming wine reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. The most typical causes of death worldwide. The fermented grape juice dilates the arteries, improving the blood flow.
Other risks of drinking too much wine
On the other hand, too much wine can be bad for your health. Here are some long-term effects to consider before abusing alcoholic beverages, including wine.
Consuming wine long-term in large quantities leads to memory loss, as alcohol causes brain damage. Wine abuse can also cause liver damage, leading to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Wine abuse leads to an inability to stop drinking, increased risky behaviors, and withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Alcohol abuse also leads to increased tolerance for alcohol, so you need to consume more quantities more frequently to feel the same effects.
Is wine good for you?
The bottom line, wine is a healthy drink if consumed in moderation. It’s part of the Mediterranean diet and can lead to many benefits, including extending your life and reducing premature aging signs. Still, too much wine will cause several life-threatening problems.
And if you are sensitive to sulfites or have respiratory conditions like asthma, you want to stay clear from wine with too many sulfites. It comes without saying you also want to stop eating other food with sulfites, including French fries and dried fruit. If you have asthma, you already know what food and drinks cause you trouble.
