Does red wine help you sleep?
We all know the feeling, laying down in bed after a couple drinks and instantly falling asleep. It could be tempting to turn to alcohol as a sleep onset aid, but do we actually sleep any better when we drink before falling asleep? When it comes to alcohol and getting a good night’s rest, the science is pretty clear.
Alcohol has a significant effect on sleep– that initial sleep onset may feel great, but any amount of alcohol will disturb sleep later in the night. Does wine make you sleepy? Yes!
But I heard wine was good for me!
When it comes to red wine’s general effect on health, the science is much less clear. With many conflicting studies, some saying a little bit of red wine is good for cardiovascular health, others calling into question whether or not moderate alcohol use displays other positive personality traits that lead to better health outcomes. More information is required to say whether or not a moderate amount of red wine is ‘good’ for you. It’s quite clear however that any amount of alcohol is certainly ‘bad’ for you, strictly speaking. You definitely shouldn’t start drinking if you don’t already!
That being said, red wine specifically does contain a complex array of antioxidant chemicals, including resveratrol. These antioxidants may improve heart health by reducing LDL (the ‘bad’ cholesterol), and reduce blood clots. Interestingly, resveratrol has been shown in both in vitro, and in vivo to inhibit cancer growth at all stages. These effects of resveratrol are not completely understood, and require more scientific research to fully verify. There’s even a name for these possible red wine health benefits: “The French Paradox”. It’s detailed a bit more in this study.
So… Can I have that glass of red wine?
Despite the potential benefits, if you aren’t already drinking moderately, it’s important that you don’t start due to any perceived benefits. The science is certainly still out on whether or not red wine in moderation is good for you. If however you’re already enjoying red wine in moderation, you should definitely be aware that any amount of alcohol may improve perceived sleep onset, but negatively effects REM sleep later on in the night. Alcohol is also a diuretic, so if you have to wake up to pee in the middle of the night, this is also disturbing your sleep!
“While alcohol is initially sedating, this effect disappears after a few hours, resulting in a fragmented and disturbed sleep in the second half of the night.”
this study
In conclusion, that glass of red wine before bed may feel good, and the sedative effects may even improve sleep onset. This is however at the risk of harming your sleep later in the night! It’s important to only drink in moderation, and be aware that it’s definitely negatively effecting your REM sleep.
