Red Wine Contains Powerful Plant Compounds and Antioxidants, Including Resveratrol

Grapes are rich in many antioxidants. These includeresveratrol, catechin, epicatechin andproanthocyanidins (5).
These antioxidants, especially resveratrol and proanthocyanidins, are believed to be responsible for the health benefits of red wine.
Proanthocyanidins may reduce oxidative damage in the body. They may also help prevent heart disease and cancer (6, 7, 8).
Resveratrol is found in grape skin. It is produced in some plants, as a response to damage or injury (9).
This antioxidant has been linked with many health benefits, including fighting inflammation and blood clotting, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Resveratrol can also make test animals live longer (10, 11, 12).
However, the resveratrol content of red wine is rather low. You would have to consume several bottles per day to reach the amount used in the animal studies. This is not recommended, for obvious reasons (13, 14).
If you’re drinking wine just for the resveratrol content, then getting it from a supplement may be a better idea.

Bottom Line: The powerful plant compounds in red wine have been linked with many health benefits, including reduced inflammation, lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and extended lifespan.