Q. Is red wine actually good for you?

A. All alcohol, including red wine, has risks and benefits. In small quantities - which means one glass a day for women - red wine is beneficial for your heart, thanks to its high level of grape antioxidants known as polyphenols. The French Paradox has proven that red wine is a 'heart protector' even when your diet is high in saturated fat from cheese, pate and pastries.

But too much can raise blood pressure, triglycerides and your weight - none of which is good for heart health.

And any type of alcohol can increase your risk of cancer, even in small amounts, according to the Cancer Council.

The bottom line:

Enjoy a glass of red wine every day or every second day but keep your intake to one or two glasses at most. Drink with food and have two alcohol-free days per week.

Red wine in the news

Polyphenols in red wine may protect omega-3s in blood plasma, leading to a healthier heart, according to Italian researchers from the University of Milan. The researchers found that the wine polyphenols increased the resistance to peroxidation of the omega-3 DHA and EPA more than that of the omega-6 AA. During oxidation, the red wine polyphenols also delayed the increase of the ratio between arachidonate and eicosapentaenoate. Read a summary of the research from Food Research International.