Red wine can be good for your heart

Q: What is it about red wine that makes people say it can be part of a healthy diet?

A: Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine (the antioxidants) might help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and protecting against artery damage.

Many doctors agree that something in red wine appears to help your heart. It's possible that the antioxidants, such as flavonoids, or substances called resveratrol, have heart-healthy benefits. Antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols might help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Resveratrol might be a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and prevents blood clots.

So how much should you drink for health benefits? The positive effects come from moderate wine consumption, defined by the American Heart Association as one to two 4-ounce glasses a day.

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This story was originally published October 17, 2014 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Red wine can be good for your heart."