Scientists have been curious for years about something called the French Paradox. It’s the idea that people in France eat a lot of foods high in fat—like cheese and meat—but still have low rates of heart disease. One possible reason? Resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in red wine.

Resveratrol is part of a group of plant compounds called polyphenols. These are known to protect the heart and blood vessels. Since French people often drink red wine, some scientists think resveratrol might help explain why their heart health is better than expected.

Studies suggest that drinking small amounts of alcohol, like a glass or two of wine a day, may lower the risk of heart disease by up to 30%. But it might not be just the alcohol that helps—it could be the resveratrol in red wine that’s making a big difference.

Resveratrol is believed to protect the heart in several ways:

• It reduces inflammation
• It helps keep blood from clotting too much
• It acts as an antioxidant, which helps stop damage from harmful molecules called free radicals

Some lab studies have even found that resveratrol might help fight cancer. It may:

• Block certain enzymes that turn normal substances in the body into cancer-causing ones
• Slow the growth of cells with damaged DNA
• Help stop cancer cells from spreading by cutting off their blood supply

Although these findings are promising, most of them come from lab studies, not large-scale tests in people. So scientists say we need more research to know for sure if resveratrol can help prevent cancer in humans.

Resveratrol may also help prevent hardening of the arteries, which can lead to serious heart problems. And it might lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by helping prevent dangerous blood clots.

Even more exciting, some research in animals shows that resveratrol may help them live longer by boosting certain helpful enzymes in the body. It’s still unclear whether it works the same way in humans, but the results so far are hopeful.

If you want to get more resveratrol from wine, go for red wine, not white. Red wine is made by fermenting the grape skins, where most of the resveratrol is found. As a rule, the darker and richer the color, the more resveratrol it likely contains—especially wines from sunny regions.

There’s no known harm in taking resveratrol itself, though drinking too much alcohol is of course dangerous. For those who want the benefits without drinking wine, resveratrol supplements (up to 50 mg) are now easy to find.

So, if you enjoy a glass of red wine now and then, it might not just be relaxing—it could also be good for your heart. And knowing what resveratrol might do for your body could make that glass even more enjoyable.

What exactly is resveratrol anyways?