Few things say Christmas quite like a mug of steaming mulled wine. The warmth of the red wine paired with the aroma of the cinnamon and cloves makes for a truly festive experience that even that first glass of prosecco on Christmas day can’t quite beat. Not only is it delicious and seasonal, did you know that mulled wine could also offer some surprising health benefits, too? While drinking alcohol is never good for us, many of the components found in a serving of mulled wine can have a positive impact on our health.

Of course, mulled wine is as strong (if not stronger) than regular vino, so try not to get too carried away. But if you’re drinking a few jars with mates this festive season, you’ll be getting all the benefits of socialising (which aren’t to be sniffed at) while also enjoying a handful of very real positives that mulled wine itself has to offer. 

So, to celebrate this festive classic, we’ve put together this list of all the surprising health benefits of the festive tipple. Just remember to always drink responsibly.

1. It may help slow down ageing 

A 2017 study from the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute found that resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found naturally in the skin of red grapes, may help to slow down the body’s ageing process. 

Resveratrol is one in a number of antioxidants in red wine that can fight ageing and age-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke. So as you savour that glass of Merlot, you may be giving your body an anti-ageing boost. 

2. It could aid your brain health

Resveratrol may be helpful when it comes to your memory, too.

In 2016, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Centre found that resveratrol reduces the ability of harmful immune molecules to infiltrate brain tissue, which could help to protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

The study’s lead author, Assistant Professor Dr Charbel Moussa said: ‘These findings suggest that resveratrol imposes a kind of crowd control at the border of the brain.”

“The agent seems to shut out unwanted immune molecules that can exacerbate brain inflammation and kill neurons,” she adds.

“These are very exciting findings because it shows that resveratrol engages the brain in a measurable way, and that the immune response to Alzheimer’s disease comes, in part, from outside the brain.”

And, as resveratrol is found in both red wine and red grapes, this is true of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic mulled wines. Win.

3. It could assist in lowering your cholesterol

Which is great news, but it depends on the particular type of red wine (or red grape juice) you use.

A study from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain has shown that Tempranillo red grapes—which are used to make certain red wines, like Rioja—may actually have a significant effect on cholesterol levels.

Researchers discovered that healthy study participants who consumed the same grape supplement found in red wine saw their LDL (aka their “bad” cholesterol) levels decrease by 9%. Participants with high cholesterol experienced a drop of 12%.

4. It could help to protect your heart

Polyphenols – the antioxidants found in red wine – can help to keep blood vessels flexible and reduce the risk of unwanted clotting.

Professor John Folts, who specialises in cardiovascular medicine at University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Today: “They’re nearly as effective as aspirin.”

However, as is always the case with alcohol, remember to drink responsibly; too much alcohol can prove damaging to the heart. Or, y’know, opt for the red grape juice version: polyphenols can be found in grape juice, grape skin and grape seeds, too.

5. It could support your gut health

“Red wine contains polyphenols, a category of plant-based compounds which are packed with antioxidants and potential health benefits,” explains Dr. Macarena Staudenmaier, Chief Medical Officer at Jerms. 

“One study from King’s College London found that moderate red wine drinkers had a more diverse gut microbiome (more bacterial species, a marker of gut health) compared to people who drank beer, cider, white wine or spirits.”

6. It could help to prevent colds

Tis the season to get the sniffles – but, as it turns out, a weekly glass of mulled wine, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, could keep bugs firmly at bay. And it’s all thanks to the antioxidants packed inside red grapes; they fight off infections, and protect cells against the effects of free radicals.

Not convinced? Don’t take our word for it; a 2010 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that among 4,000 faculty members at five Spanish universities, those who drank wine for a year were 40% less likely to come down with a common cold. Obviously this only works in moderation, as wine can actively weaken your immune system when you’re ill; including colds. 

7. It may provide detoxifying benefits

Enjoy nutmeg in your mulled wine? Who can blame you; not only does it taste magnificent, but it also acts as a detoxifying agent and can improve the overall health of your body. 

8. It may act as an anti-inflammatory

It wouldn’t be a glass of mulled wine without a few cinnamon sticks, and these Christmassy bundles of fun are filled with antioxidants. Cue a potent anti-inflammatory activity, which can reduce swelling and restore normal tissue function – not to mention ease arthritic aches and pains.

9. It could be good for your bones

Once again, you can thank your red wine for this; a report in the American Journal of Epidemiology in April 2000 showed that women who drank around 11 grams of alcohol a day – the equivalent of one glass of wine – had greater bone mineral density, measured in the hip region of their thighbones, than nondrinkers or heavy drinkers.

Bone mineral density, for those wondering, is the measure physicians use to determine bone strength and resilience.

10. It may help ease constipation

If your mulled wine features cloves (and it really should – this is a crucial ingredient for the ultimate Christmassy tipple), you’re in luck; the active principles in the clove may increase gut motility as well as improve the digestion power through increasing gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions. Which, when you break it down, simply means that it can help to relieve indigestion and constipation problems.

11. It could offer antimicrobial benefits

Cloves also contain another powerful component, explains Dr Staudenmaier. “Research has shown that cloves provide a rich source of antioxidant compounds and the antimicrobial activity of cloves is higher than many fruits, vegetables and other spices.”

12. It may help negate the risk of diabetes 

A 2009 study in Canada showed that wines of all types can lower your risk of contracting the disease by a cool 13%.

However they do warn that people who already have diabetes should take care when drinking alcohol; drink slowly, eat carbohydrate-rich foods, and be aware that glucagon (a treatment for low blood glucose) will not work when alcohol is in your blood system. It’s also worth remembering that mulled wine can often have a higher sugar content than most other vinos.

Images: Getty/Gaby Dyson/Hannah Pemberton/Unsplash