According to a recent 2-year study, a glass of red wine a day can improve cardiac health and help manage cholesterol levels for patients with type 2 diabetes.

224 alcohol-abstaining men and women took part in the study, all aged between 40 to 75 years old with well-controlled type 2 diabetes. They were randomly assigned 150ml of mineral water, white wine or red wine to drink with their evening meal over a period of 2 years.

The scientists, from Ben-Gurion University in Israel, found moderate consumption of red wine led to healthier fat levels in the blood, including higher levels of ‘good’ cholesterol than ‘bad’. Some participants in the study, whose bodies processed alcohol slowly, achieved better blood sugar control from drinking red wine.

The results were not the same with white wine consumption, suggesting it is the compounds in red wine grapes that are key, rather than alcohol. The red wine had seven times higher levels of total phenols than the white wine, and contains resveratrol, a natural compound that exists in red grape skin.