Apparently, red wine does make one feel so fine more than you would have believed.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Italian researchers claim that sex drive is higher in women who prefer red wine as opposed to those who favor other alcoholic beverages.
Romantic dinner? Order a glass of Pinot Noir or other red wine: Women who drank a glass of red daily reported higher levels of sexual desire and vaginal lubrication, compared with those who sipped any kind of alcohol only occasionally or those who didn't drink at all, according to a study in the The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Researchers suspect that red wine's high levels of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, may help blood vessels widen, which can increase blood flow to key arousal areas.
University of Florence doctors surveyed 800 women, all between the ages of 18 and 50, and separated them into 3 groups based on their drinking habits: red wine drinkers, those who prefer alternative alcoholic drinks and those who abstain entirely.
The women were then asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their interest in sex. Called the Female Sexual Function Index, the survey included 19 questions that resulted in a score between two and 36 (higher scores meaning a higher sex drive).
On average, women who drank 1 or 2 glasses of red wine a day scored 27.3 points, compared to 25.9 for non-red wine imbibers and 24.4 for those who abstain.
The results indicate a possible relationship between regular red wine consumption and sexual appetite. However the real question is, do women with naturally higher sex drives tend to drink red wine or does red wine truly have an revving effect on one's libido? Even the researchers themselves say the findings need to be interpreted with "caution".
But the lack of conclusive evidence isn't enough reason to dismiss red wine just yet. Many other studies have shown that a small glass each day benefits the heart. So, if your sex drive improves in the process, that's just icing on the cake, right?
Therefore, "€œStick to one glass"€, advises lead author Nicola Mondaini, MD; "any more may extinguish your libido."
