Red Wine Effects & Benefits Include Weight Loss, Study Finds

Can't seem to enjoy that big steak dinner without reaching for a glass of your favorite red wine? No need to fret if you are weight-conscious because a new study claims that red wine can assist in weight loss.

9News in Australia writes that according to a recent report, published in the International Journal of Obesity, red wine has high concentrations of resveratrol, a plant compound called polyphenols that gives out antioxidant and is said to help in weight management.

Researchers have tested resveratrol on mice, giving them 12 ounces of fruit a day, which is similar to what humans consume. Despite the high fat diet, there has been a remarkable weight loss of 40 percent on mice fed with resveratrol than mice not given the plant compound.

The study states this is due to the excess white fat being converted to "brown" fat, which can be easily burned off as heat and in turn, keeps the body in shape and prevents metabolic syndrome.

Lead researcher Professor Min Du of Washington State University tells BT News through Press Association that "brown" fats burn energy while "white" fats are stored in the body. Initially, only infants are said to have "brown" fat but this research showed that adults can have them too. "Brown" fat is highly beneficial because it prevents fat cells from being overloaded, causing cells to die and release toxins that often lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.

Professor Du also adds that blueberries, strawberries, grapes and apples are especially rich in polyphenols and may provide similar effects. He believes that these fruits are better option than red wine as their polyphenols enhance dietary fat oxidation without taxing the body.

Many argue that consuming more than the allowed one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men is not the right path to achieve a healthy body weight.

Besides liver disease, elevated blood pressure and car accidents, alcohol makes people gain weight. But, Cooking Light writes that according to Eric Rimm, ScD, a professor from Harvard Medical School, although alcohol found in red wine can be considered as a carbohydrate, it sheds lesser calorie-consumption concerns than those of lifestyle and diet.

Seven glasses a week will gather a small percentage of an individual's daily calorie-intake. Notably, a 5-ounce glass of red wine only has 120 calories. 

As expected, in order to achieve a healthy body, an individual must combine balanced diet with exercise and should one prefer to include red wine in one's diet, moderation is the key to get the best of both worlds.