We Asked Cardiologists: Is Red Wine Still Good For Your Heart?

 Don't care, it lubricates a good amount of social connections; which is going to prevent dementia!

We Asked Cardiologists: Is Red Wine Still Good For Your Heart?

I envy generations who had the privilege of believing that their nightly glass of vino was good for their health. Now, we rationalize it as a harmless indulgence—even though science tells us pretty much everything to the contrary. Sadly, cardiologists do not recommend red wine for heart health.

In case you missed the memo—or simply buried your head for the sake of self-preservation—allow me to bring you up to speed: The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified all alcoholic beverages (including red and white wine) as Group 1 carcinogens. This is just a fancy way of saying your nightly pour isn't the wellness ritual we once thought it was. In fact, it's linked to cancer.

But is there any evidence left of its miraculous heart health benefits? And if wine isn't actually "good for you," why did we spend decades hearing the opposite? We tapped cardiologists Dr. Abid Husain, M.D., F.A.C.C., and Basel Ramlawi, M.D., System Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Co-Director of Lankenau Heart Institute at Main Line Health, to get to the bottom of it.

Where Did The Evidence Linking Red Wine & Heart Health Come From?

The idea that drinking red wine could promote good heart health came from observational studies and the "French Paradox," which suggested lower rates of coronary disease among populations that drank it. However, as Dr. Husain points out, that research did not account for a few major factors—like diet, exercise, socioeconomic status, smoking, and healthcare access.

"Current evidence does not support recommending red wine as a strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease. It was believed that much of red wine's benefits came from the polyphenol content, specifically resveratrol, but the concentration in wine is far below the doses typically shown to have biological effects in laboratory studies," he tells Delish.

"Any potential benefit from these compounds is offset by the negative physiologic effects of ethanol, including increases in blood pressure, atrial fibrillation risk, and heart failure," Dr. Husain continues.

The TL;DR? The American Heart Association agrees that there isn't sufficient evidence to tie alcohol to cardiovascular health.

So, Is There Any Evidence Left Linking Red Wine & Heart Health?

Ultimately, researchers have found that the evidence linking light-to-moderate wine drinkers with lower rates of coronary artery disease was actually just a flaw in the way these studies were designed.

"Most recent analyses using better methods, improved adjustment for confounding factors, and separation of former drinkers from lifetime abstainers suggest that much of the apparent benefit was attributable to healthier lifestyles rather than wine itself," Dr. Husain says.

How Does Alcohol Affect Blood Pressure, Cholesterol & Heart Rhythm?

It's not just that the evidence linking wine drinkers with good heart health is misleading; it's that research shows that alcohol can have a negative impact on it.

"Alcohol raises blood pressure through increased sympathetic nervous system activity, activation of inflammatory systems, weakening the lining of the arteries, increasing free radicals, increasing toxins, and impaired inflammation defense," Dr. Husain says. "The effect is worse with more alcohol, and blood pressure often improves when alcohol intake is reduced. Current hypertension guidelines recommend reducing or eliminating alcohol as part of blood pressure management."

As for how it affects heart rhythm, drinking is one of the biggest triggers for atrial fibrillation, and even moderate intake can increase arrhythmia risk in susceptible individuals. Binge drinking can even cause "holiday heart syndrome," Dr. Husain explains, which is a temporary irregular heartbeat.

"For patients with a predisposition to abnormal heart rhythms, drinking any amount of alcohol needs to be done with caution, if at all," he adds.

And while there is some evidence that red wine can raise your "good" HDL cholesterol, it does not reliably lower the "bad" LDL kind. Since there are other ways to raise your good cholesterol (and ones that effectively lower the bad kind, too), drinking alcohol isn't the answer here.

"Polyphenols and antioxidants [which are good for the heart] can be obtained from grapes and berries and nuts and olive oil and vegetables and other plant foods, without the potential adverse effects of alcohol that have been very well described," Dr. Ramlawi says.

Is There Any Amount Of Wine That's Considered 'Heart Healthy' For Drinkers?

No amount of wine or alcohol is actually "heart healthy." However, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to skip happy hour entirely—it's just a matter of being more intentional with your consumption. Moderate drinking (one drink per day for women and two for men, per Dr. Ramlawi) reduces your risk of negative health effects compared with drinking excessively, the CDC says.

"When people ask, 'Can I have a regular glass of wine nightly with dinner or after dinner?' I would say that is not a problem," Dr. Ramlawi says. "A small glass of wine is not a big deal. Drink it for enjoyment, not as a medicine for your heart. Keep consumption at a modest level, avoid binge drinking, and reduce overall alcohol exposure as much as possible, especially if you have cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and atrial fibrillation."

If Your Goal Is To Promote Heart Health, What Would You Recommend Instead Of Drinking Red Wine?

Sadly for fellow wine lovers (including me), the key to a healthy heart isn't found in a glass of Pinot Noir. But there are plenty of other (and far more effective!!!) strategies, like regular exercise, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, and not smoking.

"If you enjoy red wine, have it in moderation because you like it—not because you think it's protecting your heart," Dr. Husain finishes.