Certain properties of red wine seem to have beneficial effects on health when you have it in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption (one drink per day for women, one to two drinks per day for men) has consistently been linked to lower levels of inflammation, a lower risk of type-2 diabetes, and a lower risk of heart disease. Like other alcohols, red wine has a thinning effect on blood that makes platelets less sticky and less likely to clot. Red wine has more than 200 health-enhancing antioxidant compounds called polyphenols. Research shows that the antioxidant activity in a single glass of red wine is equivalent to about 12 glasses of white wine.