We’ve all heard about the amazing health benefits of Italian red wine before. Drinking it in moderation offers protection to both your brain and your heart, plus it may even guard against some forms of cancer.
But very few people talk about the health benefits of Italian white wine. In fact, the focus is placed so heavily onto red wines that people may naturally assume that white wine doesn’t offer any health benefits at all. Instead, it’s something that tastes nice and offers a refreshing blast of fruitiness after a difficult day.
That’s not the case at all. There are actually a bunch of benefits associated with Italian white wine that you may not even know about. Here are five of them.
- They Also Contain Antioxidants
The big selling point for the health benefits of red wine tends to hinge around the fact that it contains antioxidants. These little things do battle with the free radicals in your body, which means they guard against the damage that your body goes through as it ages.
But did you know that an Italian white wine may contain just as many antioxidants as a red wine. In some cases, it may even have more. Researchers from the University of Barcelona discovered this fact during a recent study.
One thing is certain. Both red and white wines contain antioxidants. This means that white wine is likely to provide just as much protection against heart disease, and perhaps even some forms of cancer, as red wine.
- It Helps You to Relieve Stress
This is less of a scientific fact, and more one that we’ve deduced through our own experiences with Italian white wine. There’s simply nothing quite like coming back from work after a difficult day and enjoying a nice glass of white wine to cool your jets.
We find that the stress-busting effects of white wine reach their peak during particularly hot days. You may feel all warm and stuffy from your day’s labours, which makes that first sip of white wine all the more joyful. You get an instant shot of citrusy goodness that leaves you feeling more alert and ready to embrace whatever the rest of the day has in store for you.
Of course, red wines also have similar stress-busting effects. We’re sure that many of you enjoy few things more than curling up by the fire and enjoying a nice glass of red during a freezing cold day.
So, that’s led us to come up with a simple rule for tackling your stress. If it’s cold outside, go for a bottle of Italian red wine. But if it’s warm and sunny, a glass of white wine will melt your stress and give you the get up and go to enjoy a warm summer’s evening.
- It’s Great If You’re Watching Your Weight
If there’s one disadvantage to drinking red wine, it’s that it has a fairly high calorie count. That glass of red may help you to chill out during the evening, but it may also add a few extra pounds to your waist over time. Moreover, many people drink red wines with meals.
An Italian white wine may be the perfect solution if you’re looking to watch your weight. It’s not just us saying it either, as the science appears to back this up.
Take the 2004 study from the University of Hohenheim in Germany. It compared the effects of drinking white wine as part of a calorie-controlled diet to the effects of drinking other beverages, such as juice.
It discovered that white wine can help you lost just as much weight as juice, assuming that the wine makes up 10% of your daily energy production. On top of that, you get all of the other great health benefits on this list that are exclusive to wine.
On a more practical level, you’ll also notice that sparkling white wines generally tend to have lower calories counts that they’re still red and white cousins. We’d like to say that it’s because the bubbles cause all of the calories to float away, but it’s actually likely due to the production methods.
But let’s keep it simple. If you’re watching your weight but still want to enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage, it’s likely that Italian white wine is the best choice that you can make.
- It’s an Immune System Booster
Now, we’re not going to say that white wine serves as a substitute for the foods that your body needs to keep your immune system in check. You still need a healthy daily dose of various vitamins and minerals to ensure your body stays healthy.
But it can help if you add the occasional glass of wine to a healthy diet. In fact, several studies have shown that white wine has the ability to combat infections and will help your body to regulate your immune system.
There is a slight caveat to this, but it’s an obvious one. The more white wine you drink in a short period, the less of a positive effect it will have on your immune system. In fact, drinking too much white wine will ultimately cause problems with your immune system.
So it comes down to the same recommendation that we always make. Drinking Italian white wine in moderation and you’ll make your immune system stronger.
- Fewer Hangovers
All types of alcohol contain a chemical by-product of fermentation that’s known as congeners. While these help to develop the taste and colour of the alcohol, they’re also responsible for the dreaded hangovers you get after drinking.
Several studies show that Italian white wine contains fewer of these congeners than red wine. As a result, you don’t get as strong a hangover from the same amount of white wine as you would from red.
So, that’s the reason if you’ve ever wondered why drinking red wine results in a bigger hangover than drinking white. Stick to white and you’ll generally feel fresher in the morning and won’t have to deal with all of the nausea and headaches.
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