You know that once the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, you’ve resolved to live a healthier life. But does that mean having to forgo the midnight toast?
Of course it doesn’t—Champagne is healthy, at least according findings from these five studies. When you raise a glass on New Years, toast to the scientists who did this research.
1. Elizabeth DeRobertis, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, CPT, of Westchester Nutrition Consultants in Harrison told us that, “A study has found that one to two glasses of Champagne a week can help ward off age-related memory loss as well as the onset of dementia and other degenerative brain disorders.” DeRobertis also added: “Scientists at the University of Reading in Great Britain recently found that Champagne’s phenolic compounds can also improve our spatial memory.” That means your auld acquaintances won’t be so easily forgot.
2. The Guardian reports that Champagne is also good for the heart. “Champagne had a far greater impact on nitric oxide levels in the blood than did a polyphenol-free alternative of alcohol and carbonated water,” the paper wrote. “In short, its polyphenols have the ability to improve blood pressure and reduce heart disease risks.” The Guardian writes that the polyphenols in Champagne “affect circulation by slowing down the removal of nitric oxide from the blood. In turn, elevated levels of nitric oxide cause blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure and reduces risks of heart problems and strokes.” So, even if you have no one to kiss at midnight, your heart is taken care of.
3. The better it tastes, the healthier it gets, notes PopSugar: “While the average glass (four-ounce pour) of Champagne isn’t too bad at 91 calories, try toasting with brut Champagne if you’re watching your calorie and sugar intake. Brut is champagne-speak for ‘dry’ and signifies a lower sugar content, resulting in a glass of bubbly that only contains about 65 calories. And the drier the Champagne, the better it tastes with salty and savory celebratory foods like low-calorie oysters and caviar!” And those delicate flutes are built-in portion control.
4. Though party poopers across the land may acknowledge these health benefits, they’ll also warn that Champagne will get you drunk too fast. It turns out, the rumor that carbonation is the culprit is actually an old wives’ tale. “In some people, one small study tells us that carbonation might initially increase the rate that alcohol gets into the blood and to your brain,” NPR admits. “But even then, the heightened effect is temporary. After about 45 minutes, you’re going to feel essentially the same as if you had knocked back a glass of bubble-less chardonnay or pinot noir.”
