Wine and Your Heart

Moderate drinking may lower bad cholesterol, risk of heart attack and stroke and more

Illustration of a couple running on treadmills and toasting glasses of red wine — Our understanding of how wine's polyphenols affect cardiovascular health is becoming more nuanced. (Nathan Hackett)

Kenny Martin

From the Apr 30, 2023, issue

Good news travels fast, and persists: On 60 Minutes 32 years ago, Morley Safer introduced 21.8 million Americans to the French Paradox, the seemingly puzzling reality that the French, despite consuming far more than their fair share of saturated fats, had better heart health than Americans. The term was coined by French nutrition and cardiology researcher Serge Renaud, who claimed that regular, moderate wine consumption—particularly with meals—was behind the healthier French hearts.

Read more about the science behind wine and heart health.

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