There are recent studies that suggest red wine also helps reduce the risk of cancer in human beings as well as Heart Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, although the research is still in it’s initial stages. Polyphenols found in abundance in red wine are powerful anti-oxidants. These act to slow cell deterioration, or in more scientific terms, protect cells from oxidatve damage caused by free radicals.

In 2004, a medical survey by the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain and published in the specialist medical publication, Thorax, concludes that a glass of red wine provides 13% protection against cancer compared with rosé wines, which make no difference and white wine, which seems to have the opposite effect.

“Red wine is a rich source of biologically active phytochemicals, chemicals found in plants. Particular compounds called polyphenols found in red wine-such as catechins and resveratrol-are thought to have anti oxidant or anti cancer properties.” US National Cancer Institute