There's nothing like sitting down with a glass of red wine after a long, stressful week - but it turns out it isn't just the alcohol melting your problems away.
New research has found that resveratrol, a plant compound found in red wine, has de-stressing qualities as it blocks corticosterone, the enzyme related to the control of stress in the brain.
The study by University at Buffalo suggested resveratrol could be used to go one further and treat depression and anxiety.
"Resveratrol may be an effective alternative to drugs for treating patients suffering from depression and anxiety disorders," says Ying Xu, co-lead author and research associate professor in the Uni's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Resveratrol, a compound found in the skin and seeds of grapes and berries, has long been associated with antidepressant effects, but the research is the first time links have been made with the stress hormone.
Corticosterone is responsible for regulating stress in the brain, however excess amounts can release the enzyme, PDE4, which has been found to lead to depression and other mental issues.
When tested in mice, resveratrol was found to display "neuroprotective effects" by inhibiting the PDE4 release.
It's all very science, but in short, the research has paved the way for the use of resveratrol in new kinds of antidepressants.
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Saying this, it's not a good idea to reach for the bottle if you're feeling low.
While there has been links made between the consumption of red wine and reduced risk of heart disease, alcohol not drank in moderation is a well-known depressant.
The research comes months after scientists at Harvard University discovered that people, who drink a moderate amount were less likely to end up in hospital or suffer from heart disease than those who drink heavily - or perhaps more surprisingly - those who don't drink at all.
The study's research observed the lives of 21,000 Italian men and women found that those who drank a 'moderate amount' and mixed it with a Mediterranean diet lowered the chance of needing medical treatment over a six-year period.
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The teetotallers were 11% per cent more likely to find themselves hospitalised than those who drank one glass of wine a day.
Topics: Life News, Wine, Life, Health