Wellness Mama is always on the lookout for the next big health trend, and one that has recently caught her attention is the idea of combining wine and weight loss. To be exact, she’s obsessed with the thought of drinking wine during meal times and how it may help with weight loss. Her latest discovery is that some wines contain a substance known as GLP-1, which is a form of the hormone glucagon. Glucagon is the chemical in your body that promotes the digestion of carbohydrates, resulting in the production of glucose (blood sugar). This glucose then gets transported to the liver, where it is either burned for energy or stored as fat. Thus, drinking wine might be a good way to lose weight!
Although this is a novel idea, it’s been around for quite some time. The ancient Romans were known to enjoy their wine before meals and would serve it to guests at social gatherings. They even gave it a special name: ad libitum! It means “to drink what one wants.” So it’s safe to say that wine and weight loss have been thought of together before.
What Is GLP-1?
GLP-1 is a hormone that belongs to a family of chemicals known as incretins. Incretins increase the amount of glucose in your bloodstream, resulting in an increased appetite-reducing effect. This makes them useful in treating type 2 diabetes. They also help the liver remove fatty acids from the blood. This makes them good for liver disorders as well as weight loss.
Wine’s Role In Type 2 Diabetes
In addition to GLP-1, wine contains other chemicals that are important for regulating blood sugar. The polyphenol compounds in red wine, especially the resveratrol component, have been shown to have antidiabetic effects. Moreover, studies have revealed that drinking wine can improve the function of insulin-producing pancreatic cells. (5) This is probably because of the chemical compound known as acetaldehyde, which is also present in wine. Acetaldehyde increases the number of glucose transporters on the cell surface, resulting in an increased intake of glucose by the cells. (6)
Wine’s Role In Heart Health
Although wine has been associated with many types of disorders and conditions, there is also evidence that it can be beneficial for your heart. The antioxidants in wine, particularly the Tert-Butyl-hydroxytoluene (TBOH), can protect your heart from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can lead to cell damage and premature aging. TBOH has also been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which are factors in heart disease. (7) (8)
A recent study from Harvard University also shows that moderate wine drinking can improve endothelial function, which is the ability of blood vessels to relax and expand. This property of blood vessels makes them more efficient at carrying oxygen to the tissues. In other words, drinking wine may improve your circulation and help keep your body active as you get older! (9)
Wine And Your Wellness Mama Obsession
Wellness Mama is always on the lookout for the next big health trend, and one that has recently caught her attention is the idea of combining wine and weight loss. To be exact, she’s obsessed with the thought of drinking wine during meal times and how it may help with weight loss. Her latest discovery is that some wines contain a substance known as GLP-1, which is a form of the hormone glucagon. Glucagon is the chemical in your body that promotes the digestion of carbohydrates, resulting in the production of glucose (blood sugar). This glucose then gets transported to the liver, where it is either burned for energy or stored as fat. Thus, drinking wine might be a good way to lose weight!
Although this is a novel idea, it’s been around for quite some time. The ancient Romans were known to enjoy their wine before meals and would serve it to guests at social gatherings. They even gave it a special name: ad libitum! It means “to drink what one wants.” So it’s safe to say that wine and weight loss have been thought of together before.