Can drinking wine before bed help you lose weight?
New research shows that drinking one to two glasses of wine before bed each day may actually be good for your health, and may even help you reach your weight loss goals.
Two separate studies, one from the University of Washington and one from Harvard, both found a link between regular, moderate drinking and healthy weight.
In a Harvard study, scientists followed about 20,000 women of healthy weight for 13 years and studied them on factors such as weight gain, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. The authors concluded that compared to nondrinkers, women of normal weight who initially drank moderately gained less weight and had a reduced risk of obesity.
A study from the University of Washington, conducted on overweight female mice, found that mice given an extract of resveratrol—a compound found in red wine—produced more “brown” fat cells, as opposed to the white fat cells that make it easier to lose weight. While the study isn’t as strong as a human study, it does suggest that resveratrol may have anti-obesity effects.
Scientists from two studies attributed these findings to the resveratrol in wine. This compound may naturally suppress your appetite so you consume fewer calories without feeling hungry. Resveratrol may also have a positive effect on fat cells by preventing them from storing more fat.
Research context
These studies add to a growing body of evidence that moderate alcohol consumption may actually be beneficial for people trying to lose excess weight. Several recent studies have linked alcohol consumption to a healthy weight.
A Danish university published a study that looked at drinking habits and waist measurements and found that people who drank regularly had smaller waists.
A study in overweight and obese laboratory mice found that mice given grape extractPinot Noir not only lost weight but also had lower blood sugar than mice not given the extract.
Other Health Benefits of Resveratrol
In addition to weight loss, resveratrol has other benefits, such as protecting the heart by reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It also increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin and prevents or treats insulin resistance, which makes it not only effective for weight loss but also reduces the risk of diabetes. Some studies have also shown that resveratrol can help prevent or treat age-related memory disorders and improve mental function.
A few things to consider
It is important to note that these benefits are mainly limited to red wine due to its high resverarol content. While this is beneficial, it does not mean that you should drink a lot of it as this drink contains both sugar and calories and has also been linked to some disorders such as liver damage if it becomes a long-term habit. Excessive alcohol consumption also increases blood pressure and blood sugar.
So what is moderate? Moderate drinking is considered to be two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. Additionally, moderate drinking is most beneficial when combined with other healthy lifestyle habits such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and stress management.
