Life

Here's Another Great Reason To Drink Wine

by Michelle Regalado
wine glasses
Methiwat Petchuay / EyeEm/EyeEm/Getty Images

There's nothing like sipping on some wine to help you relax after a long day at work. But it turns out that having a glass of cabernet is more than just a great way to unwind. A new study has recently concluded that drinking wine is actually good for your brain.

The study, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, examined data from the brain scans of 13 master sommeliers and 13 non-wine experts as they smelled various wine and fruits. They concluded that the group of sommeliers — as in those who make a living being experts in wine — not only boast more acute senses of smell, but also have larger and thicker parts of the brain.

So why exactly is that beneficial to your health? Scientists believe that the extra thickness in the brain may actually help stave off chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The idea is, the thicker a specific area of the brain is, the longer it’ll take for it to see the effects of a disease.

As Dr. Sarah Banks, head of neuropsychology at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas and author of the study, told The New York Post of her findings, "Though we don’t know for sure, there is a possibility that when it comes to the brain, thicker is better."

Of course, further research needs to be conducted in order to know for sure. Still, the study seems to reinforce something we all already suspected: when consumed in moderation, wine can have many benefits — mentally, physically, and otherwise.

Image: Methiwat Petchuay / EyeEm/EyeEm/Getty Images; Giphy