10 Wonderful Ways Wine Can Actually Uncork A Healthier Gut

5. Keeping a Lid on Troublemakers: Discouraging Harmful Bacteria

While nurturing beneficial bacteria, certain polyphenols in wine also exhibit mild antimicrobial properties against specific potentially harmful gut microbes. They can gently help to keep the populations of less desirable bacteria in check, preventing them from overgrowing and causing dysbiosis (an imbalanced gut). This isn't about sterilizing the gut, but rather about fostering a healthier balance where beneficial microbes dominate, creating an environment less hospitable to opportunistic pathogens and contributing to a more harmonious internal ecosystem.