Can Wine Protect You From Having a Stroke?

Alcohol and stroke have a very complex and often unclear cause and effect association. On one hand, alcohol has been established as a cause of stroke and on the other hand, alcohol, especially wine, has been reported to help prevent stroke.

Alcohol and Your Health

There may be some benefit for stoke prevention when it comes to alcohol intake. Because stroke is such a devastating disease, and because there is no simple or effective cure for stroke, dietary modifications that can help to prevent strokeare important. Studies have demonstrated that moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly red wine, can help decrease the incidence of stroke. But, conversely, heavy alcohol use has been associated with increased stroke. 

How Does Alcohol Work to Prevent Stroke?

Red wine is the specific alcoholic beverage that has an association with reduced stroke risk. A substance in red wine called Resveratrol has been shown to produce some chemical actions that can help reduce the risk of stroke. Resveratrol decreases inflammation. This is important because  inflammation contributes to stroke. Inflammation generates blood vessel congestion and increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease, heart disease and hemorrhagic stroke. Resveratrol also works as an antioxidant, which means that it combats free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals produced before, during and after stroke. Free radicals are dangerous because they harm nearby cells. So resources that combat free radicals can help protect against stroke and improve overall health.

How Much Alcohol is Considered Moderate?

This differs for every person. It is intuitive that someone who has a small frame and low body weight cannot safely consume as much alcohol as someone who is heavy. Similarly, in order to gain the beneficial effects of alcohol, a small person would not need to consume as much as a larger person.

There are also genetic differences in how each individual metabolizes alcohol. You may have noticed that some people feel light headed faster after drinking an alcohol-containing beverage, while some people get headaches, and others get drunk more easily. Similarly, each person has a different predisposition for alcoholism and addiction and it is believed that this is based in genetics- so some people are more likely to be able to maintain moderate, controlled alcohol intake, while others have a tendency to overuse and abuse alcohol.

In general, a moderate amount of red wine is normally considered to be 1 or 2 glasses with a meal a few times per week.

Should I Start Drinking Red Wine?

The beneficial effects of moderate alcohol use are modest- meaning that they are not dramatic. However, for most people, moderate amounts of red wine are considered safe and possibly effective in stroke prevention. It certainly is not useful to drink wine if it gives you headaches or if you have a family history or personal history of alcohol dependency. If you have liver disease or disease of the pancreas, it is best to avoid alcohol.

Moderation is the key when it comes to adjusting your food and beverages.