You may enjoy an occasional glass of wine. It is used on many festive occasions to raise a toast, or to enhance a fine meal. But are you aware that wine can also be beneficial to your health? It's true. Medical studies have shown that an occasional glass of wine can be beneficial to your health.

Some medical studies have shown that an occasional glass of wine can reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke. Moderate wine consumption can reduce the risk of death by cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer. Other diseases may also be reduced by moderate wine consumption, and may very well increase one's life expectancy.

Studies are still being done on the health benefits of wine, but the healthy properties of wine are thought to come from anti-oxidants called flavanoids. These substances help to prevent cell damage by free radicals. They also help to prevent hardening of the arteries. Another substance found in wine is reservatrol. Reservatrol has been shown to boost the immune system, block cancer, and protect against coronary diseases.

These substances are found to a certain extent in white wines, but to a greater extent in red wines. This has to do with how wine is made. After the grapes are pressed, the juice is removed immediately for white wines. But for red wines, the grape juice is left in contact with the stems and grape skins, where these flavanoids are located. This leaches the flavanoids into the grape juice, where they will be present when it is turned into wine.