Another day, another story about red wine being good for you. Today's happy news comes from scientific researchers at King’s College London, who found that plonk rouge is good for gut health and can lower cholesterol. Yep, you read those words correctly. (Now look away as we tell you the bad news: you only need a glass a fortnight to reap the benefits. Sigh.)

The researchers believe that the beneficial effect is due to polyphenols found in the skin of grapes, which are used in the red wine-making process. The skins are not used in white wine production, which is why plonk blanc was found not to share the beneficial effects.

And – three cheers! – the health bonuses don't end there. The national Wine Research Institute has extolled the virtues of a drop of red for cardiovascular health. "People that drink a moderate amount of wine regularly, particularly with food, have a 30 per cent reduced risk of heart diseases," said Creina Stockley. "Red wine is good for you in moderation – with one to two glasses a day there is a reduced risk of heart disease."

In truth, you probably already knew that vino can help your heart pound through its work – but did you know that the red stuff can also be good for your teeth, sharpen your mind, and keep you slim?