© Shutterstock

Your blood pressure might improve -

Red wine in particular contains resveratrol, which not only is an antioxidant but is also a vasodilator.

© Shutterstock

Your blood pressure might improve -

This makes your blood vessels enlarge, so your blood will have more space to flow. As a result, your blood pressure might decrease and improve, reducing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

© Shutterstock

Your blood pressure might actually get worse -

But your blood pressure could get worse if you drink too much, too often. This will, in fact, have the opposite effect, and can elevate your blood pressure in the long term.

© Shutterstock

You may reduce your risk of heart disease -

Heart disease is a major killer around the world, so it’s good news that a glass of red wine might reduce your risk. This is because red wine contains antioxidant polyphenols, resveratrol being the most relevant for this effect.

© Shutterstock

You may reduce your risk of heart disease -

So, how does resveratrol help reduce the risk of heart disease? It turns out it lowers LDL (aka 'bad' cholesterol) and raises HDL (aka 'good' cholesterol).

© Shutterstock

You may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes -

Another great benefit of polyphenol compounds in red wine is that they can improve insulin sensitivity.

© Shutterstock

You may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes -

But don’t worry if you’re not a red wine drinker: you might get the same benefits from antioxidants found in tea and cocoa powder.

© Shutterstock

It might help you having a healthier gut -

Fermented foods in general (think yogurt, for example) are great to support a healthy gut microbiome. But so are the polyphenols in red wine.

© Shutterstock

It might help you having a healthier gut -

Not only do the polyphenols contribute to a healthier microbiome, but, according to a 2012 study, these actually feed the bacteria in our gut, working as a type of prebiotic.

© Shutterstock

It might protect your eyesight - Yes, it’s resveratrol again. Being the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that it is, it also plays a role in protecting us from oxidative stress. As a result, red wine may help prevent common age-related eye problems, such as glaucoma and cataracts.

© iStock

It might protect your eyesight -

Not only does red wine protect us from oxidative stress, but it also helps create new blood vessels in the eyes (a process known as angiogenesis).

© Shutterstock

A note on resveratrol -

This antioxidant can also be found in other foods, other than red wine. These include red grapes, cocoa, peanuts, and some berries, among others.

© Shutterstock

Your sex life might improve -

According to a 2009 study, this is actually true for both men and women. In the study, women who were moderate daily red wine drinkers reported more satisfaction in the bedroom.

© Shutterstock

Your sex life might improve -

As for men, a 2016 study found that flavonoids were effective in reducing erectile dysfunction in men under 70. Red wine is indeed a great source of flavonoids.

© Shutterstock

It may reduce the risk of dementia -

A 2004 meta-analysis found that those who had one to three drinks per day had a lower risk of developing dementia and vascular dementia, to be more specific. Though the type of drink was not specified, meaning that alcohol in general is likely to have the same benefit.

© Shutterstock

You’re less likely to get depressed -

A study monitored 5,505 men and women who were at high risk for depression for several years. The research found that those who drank two to seven glasses of wine per week were less likely to get diagnosed with depression.

© Shutterstock

Mental health and alcohol -

Though alcohol and depression have a complex relationship. While a glass a day may help keep the blues away, heavy drinking can in fact make depression worse.

© Shutterstock

Your immune system may (or may not) be affected -

Alcohol may affect the immune system negatively, according to a 2015 article in Alcohol Research. Though the antioxidant phytochemicals found in wine particularly were found to counteract these negative effects.

© Shutterstock

The risk of cancer may increase...or decrease -

As with the immune system, there are mixed results based on different studies, making the connection between wine consumption and increased risk of cancer somewhat inconclusive.

© Shutterstock

The risk of cancer may increase...or decrease -

Though the National Cancer Institute considers alcohol in general a carcinogen. According to them, "There is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer."

© Shutterstock

The risk of cancer may increase...or decrease -

But in 2014, it was suggested that resveratrol may actually reduce the risk for cancer. This is because, although alcohol damages cells, “resveratrol kills damaged cells," says Robert Sclafani, professor emeritus from the University of Colorado Cancer Center. 

© Shutterstock

Your nose might get a bit stuffy -

This is particularly true if you are sensitive to histamine, which triggers an immune response (as it would with an allergy).

© Shutterstock

Your nose might get a bit stuffy -

Wine contains high levels of histamine, which may lead to nasal congestion, and in some cases other symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and nausea.

© Shutterstock

You may get headaches -

Getting a headache when you drink wine is actually pretty common. You can blame sulfites, the compounds used in wine as preservatives.

© Shutterstock

You may get headaches -

While sulfites are indeed the most common cause for wine-induced headaches, histamine, as mentioned previously, can also cause them.

© Shutterstock

You may get headaches -

But there’s yet another potential trigger: tannins in red wine. These chemical compounds may increase the production of high levels of serotonin, which can cause headaches as a result.

© Shutterstock

You may look older -

Drinking alcohol, in general, will make you dehydrated. This, of course, will be reflected on your skin. Not only that, but it will also prevent the absorption of micronutrients such as vitamin A.

© Shutterstock

You may look older -

In addition, too much booze may trigger spider telangiectasia lesions to appear under your skin.

© Shutterstock

You may look older -

Red wine stains teeth, which will have an impact on your physical appearance. For its part, white wine causes an even greater release of calcium, potentially eroding the enamel. This may make your teeth look yellow.

© Shutterstock

Your risk for liver disease increases -

It’s safe to say we all know that alcohol can affect the liver in a negative way. Serious health issues such as cirrhosis (liver damage) may occur.

Sources: (Health Digest) (Mayo Clinic 1 and 2) (WebMD) (The List) (National Cancer Institute) (Healthline) (Ria Health) (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) (Alcohol Research)

© Shutterstock