<p>When it comes to the health-promoting effects of red wine, its potential to protect against heart disease tends to get all the attention. But there are some who see it as a sort of probiotic delivery system, capable of benefiting the stomach as well.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Supplements and foods with probiotics — live micro-organisms that support digestive health — have become hugely popular. While probiotics are increasingly added to a variety of foods, some contain them naturally, especially fermented products like yogurt and wine.<br /><br />Most doctors, of course, would never recommend drinking solely to aid digestive health. But researchers have wondered whether a boost in healthy bacteria may be a secondary benefit of red wine.<br /><br />In studies on animals, for example, scientists have found that components of red wine seem to improve intestinal health, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. But one recent study that examined the claim was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.<br /><br />In it, a small number of healthy adults were instructed to avoid all alcohol for two weeks — a so-called washout period.<br /><br />Then they went through three separate phases of 20 days each. In one, the subjects drank red wine, about a cup daily. In another, they drank the same amount of red wine daily, but this time with the alcohol removed. In the third, they drank up to 100 millilitres a day of gin each day.<br /><br />In the end, the researchers found that both types of red wine produced improvements in the bacterial composition of the gut, lowered blood pressure and reduced levels of a protein associated with inflammation. Slight improvements in gut flora were seen among gin drinkers, but the effects in the wine drinkers were much more pronounced.<br /><br />The verdict<br /><br />According to research, red wine may improve digestive health.</p>
<p>When it comes to the health-promoting effects of red wine, its potential to protect against heart disease tends to get all the attention. But there are some who see it as a sort of probiotic delivery system, capable of benefiting the stomach as well.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Supplements and foods with probiotics — live micro-organisms that support digestive health — have become hugely popular. While probiotics are increasingly added to a variety of foods, some contain them naturally, especially fermented products like yogurt and wine.<br /><br />Most doctors, of course, would never recommend drinking solely to aid digestive health. But researchers have wondered whether a boost in healthy bacteria may be a secondary benefit of red wine.<br /><br />In studies on animals, for example, scientists have found that components of red wine seem to improve intestinal health, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. But one recent study that examined the claim was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.<br /><br />In it, a small number of healthy adults were instructed to avoid all alcohol for two weeks — a so-called washout period.<br /><br />Then they went through three separate phases of 20 days each. In one, the subjects drank red wine, about a cup daily. In another, they drank the same amount of red wine daily, but this time with the alcohol removed. In the third, they drank up to 100 millilitres a day of gin each day.<br /><br />In the end, the researchers found that both types of red wine produced improvements in the bacterial composition of the gut, lowered blood pressure and reduced levels of a protein associated with inflammation. Slight improvements in gut flora were seen among gin drinkers, but the effects in the wine drinkers were much more pronounced.<br /><br />The verdict<br /><br />According to research, red wine may improve digestive health.</p>