Wine and COVID: What’s the Connection? New Study shows
Those who were paying careful attention to research released by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service may have become enthralled by their latest discovery.
The findings of the study revealed a link between persons who drink particular types of wine and their risk of getting COVID-19.
Though it’s tempting to assume that drinking wine can help you avoid contracting the extremely contagious virus, this isn’t exactly what the research says (via Wine-Searcher).
According to the study, those who do not drink at all are more likely to get COVID-19, whereas those who drink liquor have no increased or decreased risk of contracting the virus.
However, those who drank 14 glasses or less of red wine each week were 10 to 17 percent less likely to get COVID-19.
The risk was lowered by 12% when the same number of glasses of fortified wine was consumed.
White wine or Champagne drinkers were up to 8% less likely to contract the virus.
It’s important to realize, though, that these numbers are correlative patterns, not direct effects of alcohol on COVID-19.
It’s possible that the news is too good to be true.
Although wine has long been promoted as a heart-healthy beverage when consumed in moderation, the World Health Organization has various recommendations for alcohol use (via Mayo Clinic).
According to the World Health Organization, alcohol has a significant impact on your body’s processes and immune system.
In reality, because it affects every organ, it causes both “short-term and long-term” damage to your health. Worst of all, drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is a critical symptom of severe COVID-19 sickness.
According to the Mayo Clinic, you may be able to enjoy the same health benefits of red wine by drinking specific types of red grape juice.
So, if you want to avoid unwittingly exposing your body to a higher risk of sickness, or even more severe side effects of that disease, put down that glass of wine and grab a cup of juice instead.
