London - A glass of wine a day has long been held to protect against heart disease, but it seems to work only if you exercise as well.
A study in which people were asked to drink one glass of either white wine or red wine up to five times a week for a year found that those who were more active got the most benefit.
Levels of HDL, or “good”, cholesterol rose in both red and wine drinkers, along with helpful falls in LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol and in total cholesterol, providing they were exercising twice a week, the Barcelona meeting was told.
Research scientists looked for signs of atherosclerosis, a condition where arteries become clogged by fatty substances, in 146 participants, who had a mild to moderate risk of cardio-vascular disease.
Study leader Professor Milos Taborsky, from Olomouc University Hospital, in the Czech Republic, said: “We found that moderate wine drinking was only protective in people who exercised. Red and white wine produced the same results.” - Daily Mail