This month is all about showing your heart some love by learning how to keep it healthy, and red wine fits in nicely with its known heart-healthy benefits. My wine rack is full of red wine, but I try to limit myself to no more than one glass a day so that I'm not counteracting the positive effects of drinking this fine beverage. In case you needed an excuse to share a bottle over dinner tonight, here are five things about red wine.

  1. Antioxidants in red wine called flavonoids have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increasing the production of good cholesterol.
  2. According to researchers at the University of California, Davis, certain varietals have more concentrations of flavonoids than others. Of the most common red varietals, Cabernet Savignon has the most flavonoids, followed closely by Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir, then Merlot and red Zinfandel.
  3. Moderate consumption of red wine has been known to raise heart healthy omega-3 levels, and these fatty acids play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease.
  4. Resveratrol, another antioxidant found in red wine, could keep you slim.
  5. Polyphenols, also found in tea, nuts, berries and cocoa, may decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

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