Anxiously awaiting the end of Dry January so you can enjoy an end-of-the-day glass of pinot noir again? Lots of people are taking the month off from drinking and they’re oh-so over it. But the break is good for our health and probably much-needed since research shows people have been drinking quite a bit over the last year. According to Wine.com, wine sales were up 217% between April 1st and September 30th, 2020, compared to the same time period the year before.
But if you’re focused on being healthier, there are actually some “better for you” wines out there, according to nutrition expert and registered dietitian Frances Largeman-Roth. And registered dietitian Mia Syn agrees, explaining, “Not all wines are created equal and will vary in terms of calories, sugar and alcohol content.” These are their picks for the best and worst healthy options on the wine aisle.
- Dry reds – All wine contains resveratrol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than white wine, it’s higher in resveratrol. Reds like pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon tend to have more resveratrol, which research suggests may support heart health.
- Low- or no-sugar wines – Some wines have lower alcohol, but can still have a lot of sugar, like moscato. Largeman-Roth says some wine brands don’t add sugar in their processing and some don’t add sulfites, which may help you feel better the day after drinking a few glasses. She likes wines from FitVine and recommends Sunny With a Chance of Flowers for wines with zero grams of sugar. And Syn suggests dry sparkling and white wines if calories are a concern.
- Wine spritzers – Adding sparkling water to wine can stretch a serving, plus it’s more refreshing. You can also use it to cut calories in a drink, like an Aperol Spritz, which typically calls for equal parts Aperol and prosecco, with a spritz of seltzer. But you can add less prosecco and more sparkling water, or skip the prosecco altogether.
Source: Real Simple