Best red wine to drink for high blood pressure

Although being told you have high blood pressure can be frustrating and scary, it's a common diagnosis that many people are able to manage while still living a very normal life.

There are many risk factors involved in high blood pressure, including things like age, stress, smoking, genetics, preexisting conditions, and a poor-quality diet. Many of these factors can be altered with minor lifestyle changes, and it's important to talk with your doctor about changes to make in order to prevent your high blood pressure from leading to further complications.

The CDC recommends that people limit their consumption of alcohol in order to lower their blood pressure levels. This often has people wondering if they can still enjoy their favorite wine from time to time if they have high blood pressure. According to Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD at Balance One Supplements, the short answer is yes and no.

"When it comes to alcohol and chronic conditions, the easy answer is to abstain. However, this may not be a possible reality for some individuals who have hypertension and want to enjoy a glass of wine on occasion," says Best. "So for these individuals, wine might be a fine addition to their regimen if consumed in moderation."

Read on to learn more about how wine can affect your blood pressure levels. And for more health tips check out 5 Warning Signs You Should Drink Wine Immediately.

How wine can affect your blood pressure

close-up red wine pour

Too much alcohol can impact your blood pressure in multiple ways. "For one, the hormone renin causes blood vessels to contract, and alcohol increases the production of this hormone," says Best. "Therefore, alcohol consumption can cause the blood vessels to constrict much more than normal and therefore increase the pressure placed on these vessels, resulting in high blood pressure."

According to Medical News Today, alcohol also impacts a person's blood pressure through their cortisol levels, which is a stress-regulating hormone.

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"It can also interfere with some blood pressure medications for those that have a current hypertension diagnosis and are medicated," says Best. "This interaction can either reduce the amount of medication the body receives or cause negative side effects."

It's also helpful to think about how drinking too much wine can impact your weight, which can impact your blood pressure. "Wine contains empty calories, which can lead to weight gain and increased blood pressure as a result," says Best, "so this is something to keep in mind for those dealing with high blood pressure."

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Always consume in moderation

If you talk with your doctor about your blood pressure and decide that you still want to incorporate wine into your diet, there are a few helpful tips to remember.

To start, you'll want to always consume alcohol in moderation. "Moderation is one drink per day for women and two drinks a day for men," says Best.

According to a report on alcohol and blood pressure, alcohol can impact someone's blood pressure differently depending on their age, sex, and overall health condition, which is why it's extra important to talk with your doctor about your individual needs. And if you still want to enjoy some wine, Best suggests choosing something like a pinot noir.

"Pinot Noir is one of the healthiest wines you can consume due to its low level of tannins and high concentrations of resveratrol, and this type of wine is typically lower in sugar and calories than other varieties."

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Over the past two decades, studies have indicated that some wines, particularly red wines, offer real health benefits including lower blood pressure, improved heart health, decreased cholesterol levels, and increased longevity.

Why, though, is red wine so good for your health, and what healthy red wine options can you include with your diet? 

The Power of Red Wine

Red wines contain lots of polyphenols, which are organic compounds that come packed inside many plant-based foods. Once inside your body, polyphenols act as antioxidants, which have the power to counteract free radicals that might damage your cells.

Free radicals tend to be responsible for all kinds of harmful conditions including cancer and heart disease. The two polyphenols linked to a variety of health benefits include procyanidins and resveratrol, both of which are inside red wine.

In study after study, these polyphenols have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, resulting in an elevation of the good cholesterol and lowering the bad cholesterol. 

How much wine does it take to achieve these health benefits? Studies suggest a glass a day for women and two for men should offer you the level of protection you need. 

The Best Red Wine for Health Purposes

Now that you know how they work, which ones are the right choice to give you the health effects you’re looking for?

In general red wines that have health benefits usually have been fermented a lot longer. Fermentation lowers the amount of sugar in the wine but allows it to retain fruity or aromatic flavors.

Red wines made from thick-skinned grapes are also relatively healthy as they contain tannins that offer you a number of additional health benefits. These red wines don’t taste as sweet as others, but that’s a small price to pay for such powerful health benefits.

Not sure which wine to choose? Try one of these nine options.

1. Barbera is a red wine from Italy with aromatic flavors. This wine is high in resveratrol and protects the heart.
2. Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied wine rich in flavonoids that help protect the heart from cholesterol-induced damage.
3. Cannonau is made from French grapes grown on the island of Sardinia. These grapes have very thick skin and have high levels of tannins, which have potent antioxidant activity.
4. Malbec is a red wine with tastes of chocolate and blackberry. It is packed with antioxidants. Made from thick-skinned grapes, it also contains tannins which have been linked to good heart health.
5. Merlot is a medium-bodied wine with high levels of procyanidin and resveratrol. It is said to promote heart health by lowering blood cholesterol.
6. Nebbiolo is a red wine from Piedmont that contains high levels of procyanidins. It has a fruity flavor and also contains melatonin, which is a good sleeping aid.
7. Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol. It is made of grapes with thin skin, has low sugar, fewer calories, and low alcohol content.
8. Sagrantino made in Italy contains the highest concentration of antioxidants and is packed with tannins.
9. Tannat is a full-bodied wine with a high concentration of tannins and soft fruity flavors. It is made from dark grapes that contain high levels of procyanidin.

The right red wine means various health benefits, and along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, it could be the next superfood you need to add to your diet. 

PACIFIC RIM AND COMPANY is located in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Rim and Company representatives are available to answer your wine questions and offer selections that are sure to please your palette with an online presence. 

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