Polyphenols, found in high concentrations in red wine, are considered some of the best types of gut microbiota fuel.
Red wine polyphenols include flavonoids (anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols), nonflavonoids (stilbenes), gallic acid, oligomeric and polymeric proanthocyanins, catechins, and phenolic acid, which can reduce oxidative stress and expand beneficial gut bacteria.
According to the study, red wine contains 11 strains of probiotics, including Lactobacillus (usually found in yogurt), Pediococcus and Oenococcus strains (used in winemaking process).
The best wine for gut health is natural wine – whether it be a white wine, orange wine, rosé wine, red wine, or dessert wine. That's because of its high concentration of polyphenols, flavanoids, resveratrol, wild yeasts, and probiotic bacteria, which together create a powerful medicine for gut health.
Drinking alcohol is associated with acid rising up from your stomach into your throat (known as acid reflux), or causing heartburn. Some evidence suggests alcoholic drinks can make your stomach produce more acid than usual, which can gradually wear away your stomach lining and make it inflamed and painful (gastritis).
The only alcoholic drink that can improve your gut microbiome is red wine (consumed in moderation) because it contains polyphenols, which increase your 'good' bacteria. Just as heartburn is an inflammatory reaction to alcoholic drinks in the stomach, alcohol can also worsen symptoms of IBS.
Merlot is another dry red rich in resveratrol antioxidants. Notably, drinking Merlot in moderation improves gut health, prevents heart disease, and lowers the risk of blood clotting by increasing good HDL cholesterol levels.
Drinking alcohol can have an impact on the probiotic bacteria in your gut microbiome. Heavy alcohol use over time can kill off many important gut bacteria.
Anthocyanins in red wine are prebiotics that support a balanced gut biome by helping good gut bacteria take over bad gut bacteria.
In leaky gut, alcohol causes cracks in the 'mortar' of the intestinal wall.” Excessive alcohol consumption leads to leaky gut, decreases gut absorption and increases the production of bile in the liver, all of which can lead to diarrhea, Dr. Haque says.
The organic acids commonly present in the wine such as acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, malic acid and tartaric acid is said to be responsible for the antibacterial property of wine.
It also has the ability to "relax" the walls of the stomach, allowing nutrients to pass more freely into the bloodstream. In the earlier study, Laranjinha and his team noted that red wine showed a higher level of another chemical, called ethyl nitrite, when compared to non-alcoholic beverages and brandy.
"What is certain about wine and other types of alcohol is that drinking beyond moderation has clear impacts on a person's health," warns Dr. Septimus. "Regularly drinking more wine than recommended increases a person's risk of developing cancer, liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, sleep disorders and more."
That said, the impact of red wine on liver health is complicated. Although it provides antioxidants and reduces oxidative stress, drinking can also increase uric acid and triglycerides, which damages the liver.
Raw apple cider vinegar also contains: Natural probiotics (friendly bacteria), which may help with your immune system and gut health.
Research shows that regular and decaffeinated roasted coffee can help to grow probiotic strains as it has a prebiotic effect, thought to be due to the polyphenols it contains, and different strains are able to use different parts of the coffee to grow3.
Wine, beer and cider are fermented. Leavened bread is fermented. Dairy products such as yogurt, kefir and some cheeses are fermented.
Research has shown that wine and other alcohol can help kill harmful bacteria in your stomach before it reaches your intestine, such as Salmonella and norovirus.
A single heavy episode of drinking can damage the mucous cells in the stomach, and induce inflammation and lesions. High alcohol content beverages (more than 15% alcohol volume) can delay stomach emptying, which can result in bacterial degradation of the food, and cause abdominal discomfort.
Foods that are rich in fibre like vegetables, fruits, oats and pulses are beneficial. Adding in fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and pickles will also help to promote a healthy gut microbiome."
Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol. It is made of grapes with thin skin, has low sugar, fewer calories, and low alcohol content. Sagrantino made in Italy contains the highest concentration of antioxidants and is packed with tannins.
A Healthy Wine
Some sources of resveratrol include the red grape and red wine. Shiraz grape variety is known to contain flavonoids, resveratrol, and quercetin. Flavonoids contains health benefits like reducing risk of heart disease, preventing cancer, preventing strokes and as acts as neuroprotective.
When consumed in small amounts, red wine can be considered a superfood that provides powerful antioxidants that heal the body at a cellular level, like quercetin and resveratrol. That's why the benefits of red wine are so plentiful when you consume it in moderation.