Red wine has a reputation for being healthy — you may have heard someone say that doctors recommend having one glass a day. And there’s something to that. As this BBC News article says:

Scientists agree that there is something in red wine that, when drunk in moderation, can help to protect the heart, reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol and prevent blood clots.

The odd thing is that those same scientists can’t agree on what, exactly, is responsible for those benefits.

Some attribute them to the high levels of procyanidins found in red wine, while others point to a compound called resveratrol, which has taken on a reputation as a potential “wonder drug” in some circles. The actual beneficial effects on resveratrol on humans, however, have not been proven.

But all researchers agree that you shouldn’t overestimate the benefits of drinking red wine. Among other things, alcohol has a deleterious effect on health, which almost always outweighs any of the small potential benefits. So drink in moderation!