Drinking Wine Reduces Cardiovascular Risk – If You Exercise, Too

A study by Czech scientists finds that drinking wine does benefit the cardiovascular system, but only if it is accompanied by exercise. Earlier studies have provided evidence that wine increases levels of good cholesterol, but this study is the first long-term clinical trial – 146 people with cardiovascular risk were tracked as they drank red or white wine for a year -- comparing the effects of the wine on markers of atherosclerosis. The conclusion was that both red and white wine lowered cholesterol, but only among participants who also exercised.