According to Science, Wine and Working Out DO Mix

BIke wine

Image via The Atlantic

BIke wine

You read that right. Drinking wine regularly may actually have health benefits. IF you exercise too, of course.

The European Society of Cardiology conducted a study called "In Vino Veritas (In Wine We Trust)," in which the group introduced wine into people's lives and tracked its effects on participants bodies.

“We found that moderate wine drinking was only protective in people who exercised," lead researcher Miloš Táborský said. "Red and white wine produced the same results.”

The study showed that drinking wine by itself did not affect cholesterol, blood glucose, triglycerides or levels of inflammatory markers. However, when coupled with those who regularly exercise, specifically those who worked out twice a week, there was a significant improvement in cholesterol levels.

"Our current study shows that the combination of moderate wine drinking plus regular exercise improves markers of atherosclerosis," said Táborský, "suggesting that this combination is protective against cardiovascular disease."

For one year, subjects drank what was classified as moderate amounts of alcohol five days per week. Men in the study consumed 0.3 to 0.4 liters daily, or about two to two-and-a-half glasses, while women drank 0.2 to 0.3 liters, equivalent to about one to two glasses. Of the 146 participants, half drank pinot noir while the other half had a white chardonnay-pinot.

An interesting takeaway from the study was the fact that the red wine used for the experiment contained more antioxidants than the white wine used. However, the two different wines were found to be equally effective in the study, likely putting to rest the theory that the antioxidants played a role.

“There may be some synergy between the low dose of ethyl alcohol in wine and exercise which is protective against cardiovascular disease,” Táborský said in summation, meaning that exercise, of course, is still your best course of action.

[The Atlantic]

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