Is a glass of wine a night healthy?

New research into how wine can affect us has revealed that drinking up to six alcoholic drinks a week will not increase your risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke.

The study, from Harvard University, contradicts tough new drinking guidelines from chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, who recently said drinking "any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk." 

The Harvard researchers found that while drinking alcohol is linked with a higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, the danger wears off after 24 hour for people who only drink a glass or two. After the 24 hours have passed, the moderate alcohol intake can improve blood flow, blood vessels' lining function and reduce clotting.

Dr Elizabeth Mostofsky, of Harvard University, said: "Just after drinking, blood pressure rises and blood platelets become stickier, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

"However, regularly drinking small amounts of alcohol in the long term appears to both increase levels of HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), the so-called good cholesterol, and reduce blood clots. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation."

This study comes not long after research from Washington State University found that an ingredient in red wine, called 'resveratrol', could help turn flab into calorie-burning 'brown' fat.

With experts divided on whether or not alcohol can be considered healthy, we take a closer look at the arguments for and against regular consumption of wine.

The evidence for

Wine could...

Stop weight gain

As well as the recent study from Washington State University, in 2012 researchers in Korea found that another compound found in red grapes called 'piceatannol' has the ability to block the processes that cause fat cells to grow.

Additionally, a 2014 study from the University of Hohenheim in Germany found that people who are looking to lose weight may find it easier by drinking white wine. A diet with 10 per cent energy of energy coming from white wine was found to be just as effective in weight loss as a diet with 10 per cent of energy coming from fruit juices.

Prevent cancer

Scientists have revealed that 'resveratrol' may also help to prevent head and neck cancer. Researchers found that the compound has the potential to kill the damaged cells that can lead to certain cancers.

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Stop bug bites

If you have a bed bug problem, drinking a glass of red wine before bed could be the solution. Research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, found that bed bugs prefer blood that isn't tainted by alcohol.

Prevent memory loss

Using rats, researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine found that reseveratrol helped prevent age-related memory decline.

Once the rats who had been treated with resveratrol were two years old, they had improved learning, memory and mood function.

Help you live longer

Scientists have found that resveratrol suppresses molecules that cause inflammation and compounds in the blood which interfere with the production of insulin, thus helping us to live longer and healthier lives. The researchers, from the University of Buffalo, also found resveratrol reduced the development of type 2 diabetes and strokes.

• Browse our range of over 400 reds at Telegraph Wine from Waitrose

The evidence against

Wine could also...

Hamper muscle healing

Though resveratrol does help to slow down the ageing process, if taken in high doses it can have the opposite effect.

Researchers at the Manchester Metropolitan University said: "We analysed if resveratrol was able to promote the repair of muscle and reduce oxidative stress where free radicals - destructive molecules - speed up the ageing process.

"At low doses, resveratrol did help the regeneration. However, if the dose is higher, it doesn't mitigate ageing from oxidative stress and even hampers the repair cycle."

Increase the chance of certain cancers

Despite some research suggesting that drinking red wine could prevent certain cancers, a study published in Alcohol and Alcoholism found that drinking wine could increase the risk for breast cancer.

Lead to alcoholism

Scientists have warned that to experience the potential health benefits of resveratrol, you would need to drink an entire case of red wine each day, which could lead to alcoholism.

Cause weight gain

Research has suggested that too much white wine could lead to weight gain as the calories pile up without actually making you feel full. 

Drink Aware warn that "calories from alcohol are 'empty calories' and have no nutritional value. Most alcoholic drinks contain traces of vitamins and minerals, but not usually in amounts that make any significant contribution to our diet."

As well not contributing to our overall health, research has found that alcohol could be contributing to weight gain. Drink Aware says "alcohol reduces the amount of fat your body burns for energy. While we can store nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and fat in our bodies, we can't store alcohol.