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Red wine has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Red wine, when consumed daily, has a positive effect on the microflora of the large intestine, as Spanish scientists have recently discovered. According to their data, 9 ounces of Merlot or other low-alcohol red wine affected the ratio of bacteria in the intestine, increasing mainly the beneficial bacteria.
It is known that healthy microflora ensures the normal functioning of the entire body: digestion of food, regulation of the immune system, production of vitamin K, and rapid blood clotting. Polyphenol compounds contained in wine are comparable in effectiveness, as scientists claim, with prebiotics. They came to such conclusions after conducting a study involving 10 volunteers.
Participants were allowed to drink any alcoholic beverage except wine for the first 15 days, or to abstain from drinking alcohol altogether. Then, over several stages, the researchers tested the effects of 9 ounces of Merlot, 9 ounces of low-alcohol wine, and about 3 ounces of gin. During the trial, the scientists took blood, urine, and stool samples, measured blood pressure, and monitored weight fluctuations.
As a result, it turned out that changes for the better were observed in the intestinal flora, when drinking wine of any strength. In addition, the volunteers noted a decrease in blood pressure, triglyceride levels, cholesterol levels, and C-reactive protein, which is responsible for inflammation in the body.