Is White Wine Good For Your Heart?

Is white wine as "heart healthy" as red wine? Here’s what you should know about the heart health benefits of white wine.

The answer is probably -- though researchers continue to debate the question. Some studies have indicated that red wine is modestly better for the heart than white wine (or beer or spirits) because it contains resveratrol -- a polyphenol (plant chemical) associated with cardiovascular benefits, including reduced risk of heart attack.

Resveratrol is found in the seeds and skin of grapes, which are crushed together with the pulp to make red wine. White wines, on the other hand, are made with just pulp and therefore contain very little resveratrol. But recent studies have shown that the pulp does contain other polyphenols that may be heart healthy.

Moreover, although red and white wines differ in polyphenol composition, both contain similar amounts of alcohol -- which is known to increase level s of HDL ("good") cholesterol and prevent blood clots. And observational studies have found that drinking any type of alcoholic beverage in moderation has the potential to reduce the risk of a heart attack. ("Moderate" generally means no more than two drinks per day for a man and one drink for a woman. In most studies, "a drink" is the equivalent of about 5 oz of wine.)

Remember, too, that most experts don't advise nondrinkers to start consuming alcohol to improve their heart health. There are better ways to accomplish that -- starting with diet and exercise to control your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. Drinking should never be a substitute for these measures.

A reader asks: Should I drink red wine for its health benefits? Here’s what the research suggests. 

Johns Hopkins replies: A growing body of evidence finds that there are some health benefits to drinking alcohol in moderation, and red wine, in particular, has been touted to confer some cardiovascular advantages. 

Moderate alcohol consumption in general is thought to offer a significant degree of protection from cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks and strokes) by raising HDL ("good") cholesterol, reducing the formation of blood clots and helping prevent damage to arteries by high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. 

However, although some tentative research in mice has suggested that the antioxidants in red wine -- namely, flavonoids and resveratrol -- provide protection against cardiovascular disease, many studies in humans have shown no differences between red and white wine or between red or white wine and any other alcoholic beverages in their protection against cardiovascular disease. 

Also keep in mind that even moderate amounts of alcohol aren't right for everyone. People who have a history of substance abuse or breast cancer or are lifelong abstainers are advised to avoid even moderate alcohol intake, which is no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. A drink is defined as 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of liquor.