Vin et santé·Informational
Does wine keep you awake?
Wine, like all alcohol, helps you fall asleep faster but worsens overall sleep quality. Alcohol disrupts REM sleep cycles, causing nighttime awakenings and morning grogginess.
All questions
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- Vin et santé·Informational
How many glasses of wine can you drink per day?
Belgian guidelines (Superior Health Council, 2018) recommend a maximum of 10 standard drinks per week, no more than 2 per day, with at least 2 alcohol-free days. The WHO emphasises that zero risk does not exist.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Does wine make you fat?
A 150 ml glass of wine contains roughly 80 to 130 kcal depending on the type and alcohol level. Wine alone does not make you gain weight — excess overall calories and the snacking that often accompanies drinking are the real culprits.
- Vin et santé·Informational
How many calories in a glass of wine?
A standard 150 ml glass of wine contains between 80 and 130 kcal. Dry red averages about 120 kcal, dry white about 105 kcal, and brut Champagne about 95 kcal.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Does wine contain sulfites?
Yes, all wines contain sulfites. Alcoholic fermentation naturally produces 10-30 mg/L of SO2. Most winemakers add extra sulfur dioxide to protect wine from oxidation and bacteria, within EU legal limits (150-400 mg/L depending on type).
- Vin et santé·Informational
What is the alcohol content of wine?
Wine alcohol content typically ranges from 5.5% to 16% ABV. Still wines usually fall between 12% and 14.5%. Fortified and dessert wines can reach 16-22%.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Does white wine cause more headaches than red?
No, it is usually the opposite: red wine causes headaches more often than white. Red contains higher levels of histamines, tannins, and tyramine — three substances linked to headaches.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Is rose wine a mix of red and white?
No. Rose is made from red grapes whose juice stays in contact with the skins for just a few hours (2-24 h), giving it a pale colour. Blending red and white wine is banned in the EU, except for blended rose Champagne.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Is there sugar in wine?
Yes. A dry wine typically contains under 4 g of residual sugar per litre (about 0.6 g per glass). Off-dry wines contain 4-12 g/L, and sweet wines can exceed 45 g/L — roughly 2 sugar cubes per glass.
- Vin et santé·Recommendation
What wine has the fewest calories?
The lowest-calorie wines are brut nature sparkling (around 60 kcal per glass) and light dry whites like Muscadet or Vinho Verde (80-90 kcal per glass). The rule: less alcohol and less residual sugar means fewer calories.
- Vin et santé·Comparative
Is non-alcoholic wine worth it?
Yes, non-alcoholic wine has improved significantly thanks to vacuum dealcoholisation. It retains some of the wine's aromas and polyphenols, with 3-5 times fewer calories. It is genuinely useful for drivers, pregnant women, and anyone cutting back on alcohol.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Do sulfites cause headaches?
Contrary to popular belief, sulfites are probably not the main cause of wine headaches. Scientific studies point more toward histamine, tannins, and acetaldehyde. Sulfites mainly trigger respiratory reactions in sensitive individuals (about 1% of the population).
- Vin et santé·Informational
Does organic wine contain sulfites?
Yes, organic wine does contain sulfites — just less than conventional wine. EU regulations (since 2012) cap sulfites at 100 mg/L for organic reds and 150 mg/L for organic whites/rosés, versus 150 and 200 mg/L for conventional. Plus, fermentation naturally produces 10-30 mg/L of sulfites even with zero additions.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Is wine vegan?
Not always. Fermented grape juice is naturally plant-based, but many wines are fined (clarified) with animal-derived products: egg white, casein (milk), isinglass (fish), or gelatine. Vegan wines use plant-based (pea, potato) or mineral (bentonite) fining agents instead.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Can you drink wine while pregnant?
No — the official medical recommendation is zero alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol crosses the placenta and can cause foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), leading to growth delays, facial abnormalities, and cognitive issues. No safe minimum dose has been scientifically established. Consult your doctor or midwife for personalised advice.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Does resveratrol in wine protect the heart?
Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red grape skins, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties demonstrated in lab and animal studies. However, the amounts in wine (0.2-5.8 mg/L) are far below the doses used in clinical trials (150-500 mg/day). The French Paradox isn't fully explained by resveratrol alone. Consult a healthcare professional before changing your habits.
- Vin et santé·Recommendation
What wine for sulfite-intolerant people?
For sulfite-sensitive people, look for natural wines (no added sulfites, < 30 mg/L total), Demeter-certified biodynamic wines (max 70 mg/L for dry reds), or organic wines labelled 'no added sulfites'. Reds are generally better tolerated than whites (they need less sulfite). Consult a healthcare professional to confirm a sulfite intolerance.
- Vin et santé·Informational
What is the French Paradox?
The French Paradox is the epidemiological observation that the French, despite a diet rich in saturated fat, have a relatively low rate of cardiovascular mortality. This phenomenon has been partly attributed to moderate red wine consumption, which is rich in polyphenols.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Can you drink wine with medication?
Many medications interact dangerously with the alcohol in wine. The riskiest interactions involve blood thinners (bleeding risk), antidepressants (increased sedation), anti-inflammatories (stomach risk), and paracetamol (increased liver toxicity). Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before drinking wine while on any medication.
- Vin et santé·Informational
Does red wine contain iron?
Yes, red wine contains small amounts of iron: typically 2-5 mg/L, in both ferrous (Fe²⁺) and ferric (Fe³⁺) forms. One 150ml glass provides roughly 2-5% of your recommended daily intake. So wine isn't a meaningful source of dietary iron. If you have iron deficiency, consult a healthcare professional.