It is well known that “a glass of wine is good for the heart” but now researchers have also confirmed that a glass of wine a day reduces the risk of suffering depression.
According to Miguel A. Martínez-González, professor at the University of Navarra, “a protective effect against depression can be obtained, similar to that which has been observed for the main cardiovascular disease: coronary heart disease” Martínez-González is the director of the research work which has revealed this fact and which is part of an investigation of the Predimed Network (Prevention through Mediterranean Diet).
Specifically, the study on wine and depression -published by the prestigious journal BMC Medicine- was conducted on a sample of 5,500 drinkers with light and moderate alcohol consumption, concluding that drinking 2 to 7 glasses a week reduces the chances of depression.
Alcohol and mental health
The finding of this research is a totally different view from the studies that have been carried out so far on alcohol consumption and mental health. Most of these studies show that heavy alcohol consumption leads to mental health problems, including depression. But no one had stopped to see what happened when consumption was more moderate. “Few have assessed the relationship between mental health and moderate alcohol consumption,” insists researcher Martínez-González.