Who doesn't love a glass of wine at the end of a long, hard day? Hey, it is September, which means work is about to get a lot busier. Good thing we can always justify some vino, thanks to its role in reducing the risk of heart disease and aiding weight loss, plus glowy skin benefits.
But, like with most good things in this world, there's a catch: wine only protects against cardiovascular disease in people who exercise, according to a recent report. The study included 146 people with mild to moderate risk of cardiovascular disease; for one year, they consumed a moderate amount—just 0.2 liters, a maximum of five times a week.of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay-Pinot (umm, how do we get signed up for studies like this?). The goal was to measure their level of HDL (or "good") cholesterol after one year.
In the end, researches found no difference between HDL cholesterol levels since the beginning of the study in either the red or white wine groups. But, they did discover that a subgroup of patients who exercised more often (at least twice a week) increased their HDL and lowered their LDL (or "bad) cholesterol. "There may be some synergy between the low dose of ethyl alcohol in wine and exercise which is protective against cardiovascular disease," says study author Professor Milos Taborsky from the Czech Republic.
And inadvertent result, perhaps, but one that makes me—and probably all of you, since, let's be honest, if you're reading SELF, chances are, you're at least a moderate exerciser—want to raise a glass. Cheers!
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