[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
It is important to monitor your health and nutrition. Those most concerned about their weight have questions in particular about wine, a drink that goes well with meals. If he is the privileged witness of beautiful stories and beautiful memories around a table, he could have multiple facets confronted with the science of nutrition. Many people ask themselves the question: does wine make you gain weight?
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
Alcohol in general
Some foods we eat contain alcohol. Our body needs it daily, but in small doses.
However, beer, rum or other types of alcohol contain high sugar and calories. Their consumption would therefore lead to weight gain. In truth, they contain little that would benefit the body.
On the other hand, wine is an alcoholic beverage that has characteristics useful for digestion and the body. This would be one of the reasons why Mediterranean people, more or less regular consumers of this beverage, are so little affected by diseases relating to blood circulation.
The different wines
There are different varieties of wines:
- Red
- White
- Pink
They are essentially differentiated by their color and flavor and are generally chosen according to the meal to accompany.
To obtain these varieties, viticulture applies very specific processes from cultivation to bottling.
Of course, the grape variety of the vine is the basis. Next comes preparation and production.
First it’s the skin of the grape with which we make the drinks which makes them different. Then, the types maceration during preparation brings unique flavors. It is moreover, from this stage the processes begin to diverge.
Wine and health
Several doctors recommend the daily consumption of a glass of red wine to prevent or remedy cardiovascular problems. The drink has many other virtues due to its chemical properties mainly from grapes.
Thanks to the polyphenol contained in this fruit and the alcohol resulting from fermentation, the wine reveals interesting facets for the cardiovascular system. Moreover, numerous statistics and research demonstrate its antioxidant, vasodilator and anti-aggregant aspects.
However, we must not forget that the drink is alcoholic. This means that it does provide a certain amount of calories. In addition, there are pesticides from plantations which can dangerously affect the health of those who are intolerant.
The virtues of wine
Some research proves that wine facilitates blood circulation. This drink helps prevent myocardial infarction and improves heart rate. In addition to its benefits for cardiovascular health, the drink also helps with digestion.
In addition to the virtues stated above, wine consumed moderately slows down the deterioration of the body and fight against aging, pancreatic cancer, overweight, harmful effects of radiation, sepsis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
The dangers of wine
Doctors have always warned of the dangers of alcohol. Indeed, excessive and excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of cancer throughout the digestive system.
Consumed excessively and irrationally, beer, aperitifs, strong alcohol or even wine can be very dangerous because of ethanol which increases the risk of cancer of the larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast.
Doctors also say that excess consumption could lead to arrhythmia. Added to this are liver damage or cirrhosis and the risk of insomnia due to the surge in adrenaline levels after an alcoholic sleep.
Furthermore, there is one last danger factor to be aware of: sulfur dioxide. It is indeed a dangerous additive. It helps preserve the drink but can trigger manifestations of intolerance such as headaches or itching.
Wine and meals
Many French people drink wine before, during and after meals. Indeed, to whet the appetite, Drink relaxes the pylorus, a muscle separating the stomach from the intestine. Thanks to two or three sips, the muscle is relaxed and empties the stomach more quickly, hence a feeling of hunger.
Drink a little wine during the meal improves digestion. It actually contains a substance called histamine which helps the stomach secrete gastric juice. The food is therefore more quickly and easily transformed.
Drinking after meals to better digest is often an excuse to drink a little more and prolong a good evening. However, for you who pay attention to your figure, this represents an excess of calories that are difficult to burn.
Does wine make you gain weight?
It’s all in the way you consume! If you want to have fun and pay attention to your health at the same time, the solution is to moderate consumption. Because yes, wine can promote weight gain.
If you whet your appetite, it It is quite normal for you to eat a little more than normal. Also count the fact that a 15 cl glass of red wine gives you 85 kcal. That already gives you a surplus compared to what you eat for a day.
In addition to consuming it moderately, choose red wine over sweet white wine which contains a natural sugar additive. This leads us to say that there are more calories in the white vintage.
Does wine make you gain weight? Yes and no. If you really want to pay attention to what you eat and drink, instead of depriving yourself of everything and nothing, look for the best foods to eat periodically and in reasonable quantities. Indeed, avoiding certain foods is only a passive weight loss solution. Stay in shape by eating right and getting what your body needs.