Nutrients in red wine may help decrease mucus.

Image Credit: Boarding1Now/iStock/Getty Images Flavonoids, or antioxidant-like plant substances, in red wine may reduce mucus and phlegm associated with several conditions. Red wine contains an abundance of the flavonoid resveratrol, which is produced by the reaction of plants to stress. Flavonoids are found mostly in fruits such as grapes – from which red wine is derived – apples and pears. The Linus Pauling Institute reports that in addition to their antioxidant properties, the flavonoids in red wine act as antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents, which suggests they may help fight some mucus-producing illnesses.

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Common Cold
   
Resveratrol may prevent two inflammation-producing molecules from being produced.

Image Credit: Luca Francesco Giovanni Bertolli/iStock/Getty Images The common cold, or rhinovirus infection, is an upper-respiratory tract infection that can produce mucus, congestion and a runny nose. Infections result in inflammation – the body’s natural defense mechanism that destroys bacteria and viruses. Resveratrol, which is found in red wine, is believed to prevent two inflammation-producing molecules from being produced. They are sphingosine kinase and phospholipase D.

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Acute and Chronic Sinusitis
   
Inflammation and mucous build-up from acute and chronic sinusitis may benefit from the anti-inflammatory effects of red wine.

Image Credit: AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images Symptoms such as inflammation, mucous build-up and discharge occurring in acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis may benefit from the anti-inflammatory effects of red wine. Acute and chronic sinusitis have similar symptoms, which include a thick yellow or greenish discharge. Acute sinusitis is a brief infection usually resulting from a cold, but as in chronic sinusitis that lasts for 12 weeks or longer, it may also be caused by various infections.

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Respiratory Disease
   
The flavonoids in red wine could possibly decrease the phlegm associated with respiratory diseases.

Image Credit: lenta/iStock/Getty Images The flavonoids in red wine could possibly decrease the phlegm associated with respiratory diseases. Chronic respiratory diseases are a frequent cause of death and may be reduced by flavonoids according to a 2004 investigation published in the “American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.” The investigative team determined that high levels of flavonoids in foods were associated with a decreased occurrence in cough and phlegm; they believe oxidants–free radicals produced by toxins–are responsible for the inflammation and tissue damage in chronic respiratory disease patients. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components of flavonoids may play a vital role in the prevention of chronic cough and phlegm. The April 2009 issue of “International Immunopharmacology” reports that red wine can even suppress mucous production and inflammation of bronchial airways in asthma>

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  references
  
      Linus Pauling Institute: Resveratrol
    
      American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: Dietary Fiber and Reduced Cough with Phlegm
    
      Linus Pauling Institute: Antioxidant Activities of Flavonoids
    
      MedlinePlus.com: Common Cold
    
      MedlinePlus.com: Sinusitis
    
      AdvanceHealth: The Health Benefits of Red Wine &ampamp;amp; Resveratrol
    
      International Immunopharmacology: Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Asthmatic Effects of Resveratrol, a Polyphenolic Stilbene, in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma
       




  references
  
      Linus Pauling Institute: Resveratrol
    
      American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: Dietary Fiber and Reduced Cough with Phlegm
    
      Linus Pauling Institute: Antioxidant Activities of Flavonoids
    
      MedlinePlus.com: Common Cold
    
      MedlinePlus.com: Sinusitis
    
      AdvanceHealth: The Health Benefits of Red Wine &ampamp;amp; Resveratrol
    
      International Immunopharmacology: Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Asthmatic Effects of Resveratrol, a Polyphenolic Stilbene, in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma
    




Nutrients in red wine may help decrease mucus.

Image Credit: Boarding1Now/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: Boarding1Now/iStock/Getty Images

Resveratrol may prevent two inflammation-producing molecules from being produced.

Image Credit: Luca Francesco Giovanni Bertolli/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: Luca Francesco Giovanni Bertolli/iStock/Getty Images

Inflammation and mucous build-up from acute and chronic sinusitis may benefit from the anti-inflammatory effects of red wine.

Image Credit: AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: AlexRaths/iStock/Getty Images

The flavonoids in red wine could possibly decrease the phlegm associated with respiratory diseases.

Image Credit: lenta/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: lenta/iStock/Getty Images

      Linus Pauling Institute: Resveratrol
    
      American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: Dietary Fiber and Reduced Cough with Phlegm
    
      Linus Pauling Institute: Antioxidant Activities of Flavonoids
    
      MedlinePlus.com: Common Cold
    
      MedlinePlus.com: Sinusitis
    
      AdvanceHealth: The Health Benefits of Red Wine &ampamp;amp; Resveratrol
    
      International Immunopharmacology: Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Asthmatic Effects of Resveratrol, a Polyphenolic Stilbene, in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma