It's wine o'clock! Non-alcoholic wine just as good for your heart as the real thing

According to researchers at Anglia Ruskin University, alcohol-free wine has the same heart health benefits as regular wine. The study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition also found that the benefit of wine comes from the antioxidants present in grapes and not the alcohol content.

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For the study, researchers analysed data from nearly 450,000 people aged 40 to 69 to look at the impacts of moderate alcohol consumption on their health. The team found a 40 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease amongst people who drank up to 11 glasses of wine a week compared to non-drinkers and binge drinkers. The same reduced risk was found amongst those who regularly drank non-alcoholic versions.

The finding suggests that the benefits are due to the grapes in the wine and debunks the myth that it's the alcohol that has positive effects. Grapes are high in antioxidants called polyphenols, which can improve the function of the inner lining of the heart and increase levels of good cholesterol.

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