From preventing type 2 diabetes and dementia – the hidden benefits of a glass of red wine

A GLASS of red wine at the end of the day can really help you unwind.

But it can actually do more than destress - it can help prevent diseases later in life.

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While it is always best to drink in moderation and seek help if you start to rely on alcohol, a glass every now and then can help your health.

Numerous studies have shown various benefits from supping on wine.

And recent research went further to explain why the booze could fight off type 2 diabetes, heart disease, blood clots, cancer and dementia.

Dr Rudolph Schutte of Anglia Ruskin University found it's all to do with the grapes. Or more specifically, micronutrients in the grapes, that are passed into the wine.

They are called polyphenols, and they give red wine a touch of the superfood sparkle.

Alcohol actually has nothing to do with it, and while you will still get the benefit of the nutrients if you drink the standard stuff, you will also get them from alcohol-free wine, and with none of the hangover

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He said there is "undeniable protective beneficial relationship between coronary heart disease and consumption of both red and white wine".

Polyphenols protect the body's tissues against stress and pathologies linked to stress, such as cancers, coronary heart disease and inflammation.

A bottle of red wine contains on average 1.8grams per litre of polyphenols

In comparison this is far higher than spirits, beer, and even white wine.

One study, titled "is it time to prescribe red wine for our patients?", even concluded: "Regular and moderate consumption of red wine, perhaps one or two drinks a day with meals, should be encouraged.

"As discussed, this would lead to a decreased incidence of CVD as well as other pathologies such as hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, respiratory infections, cholelithiasis, nephrolithiasis, macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer."

WINE IS FINE

And another study found a small glass of red wine a day is enough to provide type 2 diabetics with their daily dose of a drug needed to treat the disease.

They help lower your blood sugar levels, by preventing the breakdown of starch into simple sugars - slashing the risk of blood sugar spikes after meals.

In one study, people eating the highest amounts of polyphenol-rich foods had up to a 57 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes over two-four years.

But for people who have yet to develop the disease but who may be at risk, or simply just trying to avoid it, polyphenols can also help.

Diets rich in polyphenols, which can include a glass of red wine, have been proven to help prevent type 2 diabetes.