A few drinks after work or on the weekend with friends can alleviate symptoms of depression and reduce your risk for it, as well. However, that doesn't mean that alcohol is the best option for treating depression, especially since too much or too little alcohol has also been linked to worsening depression.
To put simply, resveratrol on wine may decrease stress hormones and effectively deal with unnecessary thoughts that can potentially cause anxiety and depression. It's recommended to drink a glass of wine daily.
Wine depresses the central nervous system which means that your senses slow down, including your thought processes. So, if you're mind has been racing all day thinking about all the things you have to do then a glass of wine can help to alleviate your stress, worry and anxiety by decreasing such feelings.
Alcohol is a depressant which affects your brain's natural level of happiness chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. This means that although you'll feel an initial 'boost' the night before, the next day you will be deficient in these same chemicals, which may lead to feeling anxious, down or depressed.
03/5The beneficial compound
Red wine contains resveratrol, a plant based compound that has shown to display anti-stress effects by hampering the functioning of an enzyme which controls stress in the brain. In fact grapes, the main ingredient needed for making wine, contains resveratrol in the skin.
Pinot Noirs are packed full of the plant-based compound resveratrol, which not only has recently been found to help with anxiety and depression, but also in reducing stress levels. Resveratrol can be found in the skin of many different kinds of grapes.
New research shows resveratrol, a compound found in red wine and berries, could protect against depression and fight stress.
Wine increases the release of dopamine and serotonin in our brain as all pleasurable activities do including, for example, going out with friends, getting a promotion at work, going on holiday, and so on. By raising dopamine levels in our brain, wine can make us feel good.
Relieving depression linked to drinking
The good news is that reducing or stopping drinking can improve your mood and mental health. In fact, people who are depressed often find that cutting out alcohol entirely for just four weeks makes a clear difference in how they feel.
Some people say they drink alcohol to "drown their sorrows" after a bad breakup, job loss, or other major life stress. And yes, because alcohol makes you sleepy, a few beers or glasses of wine can seem to relax you and relieve anxiety. A drink once in a while when you're stressed out or blue is one thing.
Alcohol is a depressant. It slows down processes in your brain and central nervous system, and can initially make you feel less inhibited. In the short-term, you might feel more relaxed - but these effects wear off quickly. In fact, if you're experiencing anxiety, drinking alcohol could be making things worse.
A: Heavy drinking produces physiological changes in the brain. When you're drinking, there's an influx of the GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), which causes you to feel relaxed and calm.
It's pretty effective actually. Alcohol is a downer, so alcohol is a sedative. So if you're all wound up, and your hearts beating, and you're stressed out, alcohol can definitely make those symptoms of stress go down.
Studies have also shown that as part of a healthy diet, and when consumed with meals, small amounts of red wine (<200ml/day) may be associated with reduced symptoms of depression.
Moderate consumption of alcohol – one drink a day for women and up to two for men – is associated with a reduction in brain volume, a new study suggests. And the more you drink, the more your brain may shrink. Your brain naturally shrinks as you age.
Red wine is high in natural chemicals that fight inflammation and protect cells in your brain from damage. Moderate wine drinking could help prevent the blood clots that can lead to stroke and reduce the risk of dementia. Just watch how much you drink.
For those struggling with depression, alcohol is sometimes used to suppress symptoms related to their condition, such as irritability, loss of interest, anxiety, restlessness and insomnia. Drinking becomes a way to escape reality and relax.
People experiencing depression or anxiety may resort to alcohol to self-medicate and alleviate symptoms temporarily, without realising the potential long-term damage.
Happy: While most wines will taste better when you are in a happy mood, nothing beats a bottle of bubbly Champagne or Sparkling (Prosecco, Cava, Moscato, etc). Depressed: Go for a lighter-bodied red to lift your moods: Pinot Noir / Burgundy, Rioja, Valpolicella.
While many drink wine in the evenings to let go after a busy day, drinking it in the morning can help you start things off with less stress. Another thing you can try if you meditate is adding a glass of wine to your morning meditation routine to further enhance its calming effects.
Drinking a glass of wine a day provides antioxidants, limits plaque buildup in your arteries, boosts HDL cholesterol (the "good" kind of cholesterol), and may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
Your choice of alcoholic drink might shape your mood with spirits likely to make you tearful compared to other beverages, new research suggests. According to research by Public Health Wales, spirits such as vodka, gin, whisky or rum are more likely to draw out negative feelings than all the other types of booze.
Drinking beer or wine sometimes seems like a helpful way to ease anxiety. This is because alcohol is both a stimulant and a sedative, meaning it can make you feel more energetic and engaged, as well as calm and relaxed.
The best stress-relieving drinks include ginger, chamomile tea, valerian, black tea, coconut water, milk, green tea, coffee, lemon balm tea, water, and vegetable and fruit juice. Aromatherapy is another self-soothing practice shown to have benefits for mental health. You can read more about it here.