Red wine may prevent holiday weight gain

Here's a New Year's resolution you can keep: drink more wine! It reinforces a healthier lifestyle and starting now, may prevent the holiday weight gain that is an American tradition. "Celebrating the holidays with wine and enjoying better health is truly a win-win," according to Richard Baxter, MD, author of the award-winning new book Age Gets Better with Wine: New Science For a Healthier, Better & Longer Life.

Baxter shares the scientific reasons why moderate wine consumption should be an everyday ritual, especially during the holidays. "Compounds in red wine work at a cellular level to lessen the negative effects of high-fat holiday meals, and help keep blood sugar levels in check. These are some of the reasons why wine drinkers are less likely to be overweight," Baxter notes.

Baxter's advice is that the wine be red and that the older the vintage, the better. He cautions to keep alcohol consumption reasonable. "Moderation is the key, and while wine is not a low-calorie drink, it doesn't contain the sugar calories of many mixed drinks, and calories from alcohol avoid the spike in blood sugar that contributes to weight gain."

Wine's much-touted miracle molecule, resveratrol, is often given full credit for its benefits, and Baxter's book devotes an entire chapter to why this may not be true. What about resveratrol pills? "Despite thousands of studies on resveratrol the evidence for its use as a supplement isn't there yet," says Baxter. "They certainly aren't as enjoyable as a glass of wine, so for now a glass or two of red wine with meals is the best way to get your daily dose of Vitamin W."