Wine can boost dietary fiber

Grapes contain fiber, but does any of that fiber make its way through the wine making process?

To answer that question, researchers in Spain recently tested several varieties of wine. Results showed that white is pretty low in fiber, but some red wines contain as much as eight times more fiber than the whites.

The highest fiber content was found in a premium Spanish wine that blends tempranillo and monastrell grapes. Turns out, a liter of this red vino contains about the same amount of fiber as a tomato.

Study leader, Dr. Fulgencio Saura-Calixto, told The Guardian that 300 milliliters (about 10 ounces) of this wine would increase soluble dietary fiber intake by nearly seven percent.

But this information should probably be filed under “Good to Know” rather than “Good Source of Fiber.” The Guardian article notes that winemaking techniques and vineyard environment dictate the fiber content of a wine, so you can’t assume that a glass of your favorite red from California will significantly boost fiber intake.

Sources:
“How Red Wine Can Boost Dietary Fibre” The Guardian, 3/3/06, guardian.co.uk