Moderate Wine Drinking Linked to Heart Health Benefits in Mediterranean Diet Study

A new study suggests consuming up to a bottle of wine per week may reduce heart disease risk by 50% when paired with a Mediterranean diet, but experts urge caution over alcohol's broader health risks.

Researchers found that drinking 12 to 35 small glasses of wine per month, equivalent to up to a bottle per week, was associated with a 50% lower risk of heart disease in older adults at high cardiovascular risk.
The study measured wine consumption using tartaric acid levels in urine, offering a more objective metric compared to self-reported data often used in similar research.
Participants followed a Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish, which may have contributed to the observed health benefits.
Experts caution that the study shows correlation, not causation, and that excessive alcohol consumption still poses significant health risks, including hypertension, liver issues, and certain cancers.
Critics highlight the importance of lifestyle factors like diet and exercise over alcohol consumption alone, emphasizing that the findings do not endorse drinking wine as a primary heart health strategy.