4 Surprising Side Effects of Drinking Wine in Your 40s
There's nothing quite like ending a long work day with a nice glass of your favorite wine or meeting up with friends for happy hour to split a bottle of vino.
Wine is certainly delicious, but how does it affect our health? And can wine have a different effect on us as we get older? To find out, we talked with some dietitians to learn more about the effects of drinking wine when you're in your 40s.
And for more healthy drinking tips, check out 4 Drinking Habits That Slow Down Your Metabolism at Any Age.
It may cause dehydration.
Many people may not think to hydrate while they're drinking, but wine can quickly dehydrate you.
Since alcohol is a diuretic, drinking excessive amounts can pull fluids from your body. Combat this with extra mindfulness to rehydrate and hydrate while drinking," says Rachel Fine, RDN and founder of To The Pointe Nutrition.
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It may be good for your gut.
While excessive alcohol consumption may negatively impact your gut health, a very moderate amount of wine has been found to possibly help your gut. This may be helpful in your 40s, especially because some studies have found that aging may change your gut microbiome.
A review of studies over recent years show a link between moderate consumption of red wine and beneficial gut bacteria," says registered dietitian Johna Burdeos, RD. "This research suggests that the polyphenols in wine may increase gut microbial diversity, which is key to a healthy and resilient gut.
It may contribute to healthy aging.
Moderate consumption of red wine may contribute to healthy aging, as long as it's a part of an overall healthy, balanced diet.
"The anti-oxidative benefits from the antioxidants in red wine are abundant, and help to neutralize damaging free radicals in the body that build up from oxidative stress," says Fine.
It may improve your heart health.
It's never too early to care for your heart health. While your heart undergoes most of its age-related changes in your 50s and 60s, preparing for a healthy heart in your 30s and 40s may help protect you from damage.
Studies have shown that moderate consumption of red wine may have positive benefits on your heart health. In a 2019 report published in Molecules, it was shown that wine can have anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering effects on the body. However, it's important to note that your overall diet has more of an impact on your cardiovascular health.
