Health news website WebMD reported that red wine's heart-healthy benefits have often been attributed to antioxidants called polyphenols. While expert opinions have varied on polyphenols effect on the heart, Dutch researchers have discovered that polyphenols do not seem to promote heart health by reducing blood pressure, according to WebMD.

Lead researcher Ilse Botden, MD and a Ph.D. student at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, presented the findings at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research 2011 Scientific Sessions in Florida in the United States.

Still, the researchers note that the study does not discount red wine's health benefits.

Research has shown that red wine helps to block the signals of molecules that can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Additionally, researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. recently discovered that red wine protects the brain from damage following a stroke.

Moderate drinking (one drink a day for women, two a day for men) has also been shown to significantly increase the levels of good cholesterol circulating in the body, which can have a protective effect against heart disease.

From the September 27, 2011,Prepared Foods' Daily News.