Yep, wine really is a health drink.

Back in the mid 90s researchers began to investigate the French Paradox to try and discover why people who ate so much cheese fat weren’t having more heart attacks. Turns out the credit goes to a moderate but steady national wine drinking habit. Research from all sorts of sources continues to surface supporting the initial findings.

Originally, the health benefits were credited to an antioxidant found in red grape skins but now it turns out that white wine is just as good for you. Here are a few of the more recent studies with source and benefit observed.

An anti-aging effect in red grape skins from Harvard Medical School in 2004.

Improved lung function from antioxidants in white wine from the American Thoracic Society in 2002.

Coronary heart disease reduced from the University of California, Davis in 1995.

Healthier blood vessels in the elderly from the University of Ferrara in Italy in 2004.

Ulcer causing bacteria reduced from American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2003.

Cancer cells killed by protein in red grape skins from the University of Virginia Health System in 2004.

On and on it goes. It turns out to be quite a formidable body of evidence in support of swilling the stuff. But there’s got to be a catch, right? Of course there is. You can’t get fall down slobbering drunk and expect that fits the description of moderate wine consumption. In fact, over-indulge results in plenty of negative health benefits.

What’s appropriate? A glass or two each day and, no, you can’t save them up and drink them all Saturday night. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. So, feel perfectly at ease while you’re sipping that glass of wine tonight. It’s your new health drink. Cheers!

Welcome back! Get your Online Personal Training account for just $29.99 a year. Follow us on Twitter for diet and workout tips!