Another year and another list of things you tell yourself you WILL do. And if you’re like me, New Year’s usually ends up being another start for old habits – i.e. “I will be consistent with going to the gym” (as I sit here writing this post, in gym clothes)… and “I will not drink every night” (which really ends up being “I’m only going for one drink” …which we also know, is another lie). Oh alas, a January resolution that’s abandoned by February. But don’t give up just yet, because there’s a resolution you might actually keep.

Brace yourself…. here it goes…. DRINK… WINE. Yes, that’s correct, drink up! Drink it in glasses, in plastic, from a box, or even straight out of the bottle, whatever you’re into… but drink wine! You know that saying that goes “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”… well a glass of wine a day can lower your risk of getting heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a variety of cancers.

Red wine, specifically, has tannins that contain procyanidins. Procyonidins are antioxidants that experts say, prevent heart disease by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol). In lesser words, these antioxidants also help protect against artery damage and the lining of the blood vessels in your heart. Red wine also contains resveratrol, a compound with antioxidant properties, that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), evidently, helping to prevent blood clots.

So cheers my friends. Red wine’s potential heart-healthy benefits look promising… maybe more promising than some of the other resolutions you’ve made this year. Happy Wine Wednesday!