Alcohol consumption continues to hit the headlines, so does the damage outweigh the benefits?
Red wine contains chemicals which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks in people with heart disease, and also lower the risk of various cancers. Resveratrol, found in grape skins and seeds, increases HDL (good) cholesterol, and flavonoids exhibit antioxidant properties, helping prevent blood clots forming in the arteries.
Red wine has other health benefits, for example it contains Salicylate, an antioxidant that can help prevent deafness by protecting the tiny hairs in the inner ear that are essential for hearing, and can also sharpen the wits a recent study found groups of red wine drinkers scored considerably higher in mental agility tests than groups of teetotalers.
However, you will only reap the benefits of red wine if you keep your intake to 1-2 small glasses per day, otherwise the destructive effects of the alcohol on your liver and other organs will overshadow the benefits to your heart. Also, neither white wine nor rose were found to have the same effects. So no need to ditch the odd glass of red as it can help keep your heart healthy; just remember to drink it in moderation. | 
