By now, we're all aware of the health benefits of red wine. It offers beneficial antioxidants that work to prevent cancers and heart disease while lowering cholesterol. White wine doesn't seem to offer as many benefits, but its bubbly cousin, champagne, seems to. Researchers have found that sparkling wines, such as champagne, cava and prosecco, contain the same polyphenols as red wine, plant chemicals that boost nitric oxide in the blood, which widens blood vessels, easing the strain on your heart and brain. So why the benefits for champagne and not white wine? The grapes used in making champagne are typically red grapes - pinot meunier and pinot noir.
If you fear the nasty headache that those tiny bubbles can sometimes incur, then limit your consumption to just a glass or two. Better yet, make a cocktail out of your sparkling wine. Adding juice, such as pomegranate, cranberry or cherry juice, can further boost antioxidants in your beverage. Get a hit of vitamin C and calcium by mixing in some orange juice for the classic Mimosa. Champagne isn't just for ringing in the New Year. Use it to celebrate good health at your next get together.