Red wine contains resveratrol, which has some beneficial properties. However, current guidelines suggest that no level of alcohol is safe for health.

Ultimately, many of the benefits that research has linked to red wine are due to the beneficial properties of resveratrol. Eating grapes and berries may, therefore, be a more healthful option.

You’ll notice the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.” While we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.

We rely on publicly accessible research that isn’t behind a paywall. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the studies and surveys referenced in this article included participants with expansive gender identities.

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Although red wine may contain some beneficial components, healthcare professionals do not recommend that a person start drinking alcohol. This is because the ethanol, or alcohol, is classed as a Group 1 carcinogen.

The Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source provides guidance on the health risks of drinking too much alcohol. They report that excessive alcohol use led to around 178,000 deaths in the U.S. between 2020 to 2021, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 24 years.

Short-term health risks of excessive alcohol use include:

Long term risks of excessive alcohol use include:

People may also develop alcohol use disorder. Heavy drinking is particularly harmful to health.

Red wine has been part of social, religious, and cultural events for centuries. In the past, people have theorizedTrusted Source that red wine benefits health, particularly alongside a balanced diet.

In recent years, science has indicated that there could be truth in these claims.

Although there are no official recommendations around these benefits, a 2018 studyTrusted Source notes that drinking red wine in moderation has positive links with:

A 2021 narrative review notes that moderate wine consumption has associations with health benefits, especially when consumed as part of the Mediterranean diet.

Red wine may have Trusted Sourcehealth benefits because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-regulating effects.

Red wine, which people make from crushed dark grapes, is a relatively richTrusted Source source of resveratrol, a natural antioxidant in the skin of grapes.

Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress has clear links with many diseases, including cancers and heart disease.

Whole grapes and berries are better sources of resveratrol than red wine, and because of the health risks linked with drinking alcohol, getting antioxidants from foods is likely to have more health benefits than drinking wine.

The following sections take a closer look at the possible health benefits of red wine.

A 2019 reviewTrusted Source reported that drinking red wine is linked with a lower risk of coronary heart disease, which is a leading cause of disease and death in the United States. The authors concluded that red wine might have cardioprotective effects.

However, the American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source states that it is unclear if there is a cause-and-effect relationship, and other factors may play a role. For example, people who drink red wine in moderation may also follow a more healthful lifestyle or eat a Mediterranean diet.

The AHA also explains that excess alcohol can directly harm the heart.

A 2018 studyTrusted Source reported that red wine and grape polyphenols might improve gut microbiota, contributing to a healthy gut.

This is because red wine polyphenols may also actTrusted Source as prebiotics, which are compounds that boost healthy gut bacteria.

However, the research is limited, and doctors need more evidence before understanding the true effects of red wine on gut health.

One 2015 studyTrusted Source has shown that drinking a glass of red wine with dinner “modestly decreases cardiometabolic risk” in people with type 2 diabetes and found that a moderate red wine intake is usually safe.

The scientists believe that the ethanol in wine plays a crucial role in metabolizing glucose and that the nonalcoholic ingredients may also contribute. However, more research is necessary to confirm the findings.

Furthermore, a 2018 meta-analysisTrusted Source found that moderate wine consumption did not reduce glucose parameters and other cardiovascular risk factors among people with type 2 diabetes.

Therefore, anyone with diabetes should check with their doctor before drinking alcohol.

According to the AHATrusted Source, resveratrol may reduce blood pressure and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

A 2021 meta-analysisTrusted Source concluded that red wine compounds called procyanidins help keep the blood vessels healthy.

Many people find alcoholic drinks to be relaxing. However, studies published in 2017Trusted Source and 2021 indicated that grape products and whole red grape juice could also reduce blood pressure. These could be more healthful options.

That being said, it is important to note that drinking too much alcohol can still cause high blood pressure, arrhythmia, or an irregular heart rhythm.

A 2015 reviewTrusted Source reported that resveratrol might help protect against secondary brain damage after a stroke or central nervous system injury. This is due to its positive effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death.

A 2018 studyTrusted Source found that resveratrol reduced oxidative stress and cell death in rats with traumatic brain injury.

However, both studies demonstrated the effects of resveratrol specifically rather than red wine.

Research shows that resveratrol may also help prevent vision loss by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Many forms of age-related eye conditions that cause vision loss involve these factors, including:

While there are research studies indicating that drinking red wine in moderation could reduce the risk of certain cancers, the National Cancer Institute (NCI)Trusted Source states that there is strong evidence that drinking alcohol can also cause certain cancers, especially if drinking heavily over time.

This is partly because it creates toxins in the body, damages body tissues, and creates oxidation. This means that the potential adverse effects of alcohol may outweigh any benefit from resveratrol.

The NCI links alcohol use with various cancers, including mouth, throat, liver, breast, and colon cancer.

Some studies link moderate red wine intake with reduced risk or better outcomes in cancer. The following sections look at studies into red wine and particular types of cancer.

Breast cancer

Alcohol increasesTrusted Source estrogen in the body, a hormone that can encourage the growth of cancer cells.

However, a 2019 studyTrusted Source stated that the aromatase inhibitors (AIs) such as exemestane and anastrozole may be associated with a lower risk of invasive cancer.

Since wine contains these substances, it can be inferred that drinking wine may help a person reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

However, this is by no means a definitive conclusion. Other researchTrusted Source indicates that drinking wine, even in moderate amounts, can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Lung cancer

A 2017 reviewTrusted Source found that resveratrol may have protective effects against lung cancer in both human and laboratory studies. The mechanisms include preventing cell proliferation and tumor growth, inducing cell death in cancer cells, and inhibiting metastasis.

However, these effects are from resveratrol rather than red wine itself.

Prostate cancer

A 2019 studyTrusted Source reported that males who drank alcohol had a slightly lower risk of lethal prostate cancer and that red wine had links with a lower risk of progression to lethal disease.

The authors stated that these results mean moderate alcohol consumption might be safe for people with prostate cancer.

According to a 2018 reportTrusted Source, researchers have found an increased risk of dementia in people who abstained from drinking wine.

The authors stated that this might be because of the neuroprotective effects of polyphenols and other compounds in wine that can reduce inflammation and alter the lipid profile in the body.

Resveratrol may be able to increase the level of serotonin in the brain, which might help reduce the symptoms of depression.

Other compounds contained in wine may help regulate how serotonin transmits within the brain, a mechanism that can malfunction in cases of mood disorders.

However, alcohol might also make depression worse in some cases. A 2021 studyTrusted Source on adolescents living with depression found that consuming just 1-2 drinks or less a month or half a drink monthly may be associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents.

In addition, people who misuse alcohol or have alcohol use disorder have a higher riskTrusted Source of developing a mood disorder like depression.

Alcohol is a common causeTrusted Source of liver disease. However, some contexts link moderate red wine consumption to good liver health.

According to a 2018 studyTrusted Source, modest alcohol intake, particularly wine, is linked with lower liver fibrosis in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This study defined modest alcohol intake as up to 70 grams (g) or less than 2.5 ounces (oz) per week.

That said, the impact of red wine on liver health is complicated. Although it provides antioxidants and reduces oxidative stress, drinking can also increase uric acid and triglycerides, which can damage the liver.

Researchers need to complete more studies to determine the complex effects of moderate red wine intake on liver health.

People who currently have liver disease should avoid alcohol altogether.

As discussed above, drinking red wine in moderation may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, which may help people live longer.

Some researchTrusted Source suggests that moderate red wine consumption can increase the expression of longevity-related genes. It may also improve metabolic health.

However, a 2018 reviewTrusted Source noted that this is likely due to confounding factors, such as diet. For instance, red wine is a common addition to the Mediterranean diet, an eating pattern linked to good health and long life.

Resveratrol appears to underlie many of the health benefits of red wine.

Red wine contains more resveratrolTrusted Source than white wine, as it is fermented with grape skins, while white wine is not. Most of the resveratrol in grapes is in the seeds and skin.

Drinking red wine in moderation may have certain health benefits, including boosting heart, gut, and brain health. This is because it contains compounds with antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and lipid-improving effects.

However, there is no safe level of alcohol to consume and drinking alcohol can cause serious health problems. People should speak to their doctor about consuming alcohol safely or limiting their consumption.

A person may experience similar benefits from eating grapes and certain berries instead.