Drinking moderate amounts of wine as part of a healthy lifestyle has been shown to be beneficial. However, it's not for everyone. Certain medical conditions are worsened by the consumption of wine, so it's vital you seek the advice of your personal physician. A few things to know… 

High Triglycerides: One downside to wine consumption is that it can elevate triglyceride levels, which is associated with health problems such as diabetes. Those who already have high triglycerides should, therefore, avoid or dramatically limit their wine (and alcohol) consumption.  

Breast Cancer Risk: Studies have shown alcohol can increase estrogen levels and raise tumor progression in women with (or at high risk for) estrogen-positive breast cancer.  

Migraines: Wine is often a big trigger for people who suffer with migraine headaches. Although white wine contains more sulfites than red wine (sulfites are added to white wine to preserve its light color), red wine seems to be a much bigger migraine trigger. That's probably due to the accumulation of histamines and tannins from prolonged contact with the skin. 

Weight Gain: Alcohol contains "empty calories" - calories that lack nutrients - and can lead to weight gain. Five ounces of white/red wine add up to approximately 120 calories. Drink a bottle of wine (4 glasses), and you'll be consuming about 480 calories (that's the equivalent of two 20-ounce Cokes!). Here's how one gram of alcohol compares to one gram of carbohydrate, protein, and fat:

• 1 gram alcohol = 7 calories
• 1 gram carb = 4 calories
• 1 gram protein = 4 calories
• 1 gram fat = 9 calories