# Health benefit: Its the grapes, not necessarily the wine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437 "2009-07-18T14:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/1 "2009-07-18T14:54:39Z")
Doesn’t the supposed health benefit that comes from drinking two glasses of wine a day actually come from the grapes that the wine is made from? Couldn’t one just consume some grapes and get the same benefit? ---
**Author:** ![otorophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@otorophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otorophile)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/2 "2009-07-18T18:50:33Z")
I did some cursory googling. It looks like there are alcohol and non-alcohol related effects. The alcohol in the wine can raise levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and thin blood, which helps the cardiovascular system. Antioxidants that were present in the grape beforehand like flavanoids and resveratrol may also have health benefits. Note that alcohol may have cancer risks and is a source of empty calories, so don’t go guzzling merlot. [cite](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/) ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/3 "2009-07-19T01:58:20Z")
Despite the seemingly desperate attempts by a temperance-oriented core of doctors, there is consistent evidence that drinking alcohol in moderation has significant net benefits, and it’s not just the grapes. Somewhat related column: [How can I avoid getting old? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2857/how-can-i-avoid-getting-old) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/4 "2009-07-19T03:38:40Z")
The experience of relaxing with a glass of wine or two, and making time for it, probably has all the health benefits. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/5 "2009-07-19T05:33:43Z")
Note that you’d have to eat dark-colored grapes to get much resveratrol. > **[Resveratrol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservatol)** > > Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced by several plants in response to injury or when the plant is under attack by pathogens, such as bacteria or fungi. Sources of resveratrol in food include the skin of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries, and peanuts. > Although commonly used as a dietary supplement and studied in laboratory models of human diseases, there is no high-quality evidence that resveratrol improves... ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/6 "2009-07-19T05:44:24Z")
> [@otorophile](#): > > I did some cursory googling. It looks like there are alcohol and non-alcohol related effects. The alcohol in the wine can raise levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and thin blood, which helps the cardiovascular system. Antioxidants that were present in the grape beforehand like flavanoids and resveratrol may also have health benefits. Note that alcohol may have cancer risks and is a source of empty calories, so don’t go guzzling merlot. > > [cite](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/) Can I guzzle Riesling instead? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-benefit-its-the-grapes-not-necessarily-the-wine/503437/7 "2009-07-19T12:41:18Z")
No. All the benefit is in the parts which make the wine red. White is no better for you than beer.