Red wine can actually relieve stress and anxiety, according to a study

Everyone likes a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Somehow, no matter how stressful a day you might have had, sipping on a glass of red always manages to help you calm you down.

And while we always thought it was just ritual of the enjoying a deep red in a polished thin-stemmed glass (or maybe just the alcohol content) that gives us that calming effect, it turns out that there actually might be some more science behind it.

A new study has found that drinking red wine actually can help you de-stress at the end of the day – and it’s all because of its ingredients.

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Scientists have found that plant compound resveratrol, which is found in red wine (opens in new tab), can block enzymes linked to stress, depression and anxiety and help relieve stress on the brain.

The body produces the hormone corticosterone if you are stressed or worried and excessive stress can cause the hormone to circulate around the brain, possibly even leading to mental health problems.

However, the scientific study, published in the journal Neuropharmacology and led by Xiaoxing Yin, professor at Xuzhou Medical University in China, found that resveratrol helped protect the body against corticosterone.

‘Resveratrol may be an effective alternative to drugs for treating patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders,’ said Ying Xu co-lead author and research associate professor in the Buffalo University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

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That obviously doesn’t mean that anyone suffering from depression or anxiety will be fine with a glass of wine, but if you’re feeling a little stressed after a hard day of work then a tipple or two could do the trick and make sure to always try and stick to the recommended guidelines.

According to the NHS there is no ‘safe’ level of drinking, but less than 14 units a week is considered low risk. You’ll find three units in a large (250ml) glass of 12% ABC red wine and two in a 175ml glass.