Drinking Red Wine Can Cure Your Cold (Yes, You Read That Right)

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But what about wine? Grapes are fruits, right? While we often find ourselves pouring a glass of red wine with our dinner, we don’t necessarily expect it to be doing anything positive for our health.

However, studies show that when consumed in recommended quantities, red wine not only has health benefits relating to the heart, brain, and eyes, but it can fight off viruses, too.

“Drinking red wine in moderation can help develop immunity that can fight against 200 viruses,” nutritionist Sally Stevens told Real Simple. “Wine contains high levels of antioxidants in the form of flavonoids, which can combat viruses.”

The antioxidant component in red wine boosts your immune system and microbiome (AKA healthy gut bacteria), which prevents disease development, lowering your susceptibility to getting sick, per Real Simple.

While wine generally may have these benefits, a study shared by the American Journal of Epidemiology found that among those who drank both red and white wine, the correlation was stronger among those who drank red wine exclusively.

In the wise words of Sam Smith, “too much of a good thing won’t be good for long.” The CDC recommends one 5-oz glass of wine per day for women and two 5-oz glasses per day for men. And if red wine just isn’t your thing, dark chocolate has a few health benefits worthy of exploring!