Wine May Reduce Your Risk Of This Health Problem As You Age, New Study Finds

Long live the new reds! We’ve all heard that red wine has been shown to have certain benefits when it comes to reducing the risk of heart attack. But today, researchers are touting a new reason to toast your health with a little wine.

A new UK study – and the largest ever of its kind – has found that the right amount of red wine can help prevent cataracts – an eye condition that affects the majority of people and is increasing in prevalence.

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Your eyes aren’t fooling you: the study, which was published today in the journal Ophthalmology (the official medical publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology), analyzed the reported lifestyle habits of 490,000 participants. The researchers concluded that red wine – thanks to its particular antioxidants – was found to offer the strongest protective effect with a 14% lower need for cataract surgery.

White wine and champagne drinkers may also see a 10% lower risk, while beer and spirits enthusiasts saw the risk decrease by 13% and the risk 14% lower.

Lead author Sharon Chua, MD, concluded that over time the eyes see damage due to “oxidative stress during aging.” She continued: “The fact that our findings were particularly evident in wine drinkers may suggest a protective role for polyphenol antioxidants, which are particularly abundant in red wine.”

The academy describes cataracts as a condition in which the proteins in the lens of the eye break down, which causes light to refraction and makes our vision less clear.

Research suggests that cataracts start to occur around the age of 40. The rate of cataract onset varies by race and ethnicity, but for some populations, the National Institute of Health predicts it will increase from twice (for Caucasians) to five times (for American Hispanics). ) over the next 30 years.

That said, the study also found that daily or near-daily beer and spirits sirens saw no reduction in cataract risk. Overall, regardless of the type of drink, people who drank alcohol daily or near them had an approximately 6% higher risk of cataract surgery compared to moderate drinkers.

Looking for the greatest imbibition benefit? Discover the healthiest bottle of wine you can drink, according to dietitians.