You Asked...

Q: I know red wine is healthy, but does the same hold true for sparkling wine?

A: Here's something to toast this season: Just like red wine, bubbly is brimming with the antioxidants tyrosol, caffeic acid, and gallic acid. While the heart-healthy benefits of these plant-derived compounds have long been known, a recent study revealed they may also be good for your brain. Researchers from the University of Reading in England and the Università Degli Studi di Cagliari in Italy found that the antioxidants in champagne may help protect your brain against injuries incurred during a stroke and against neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

"As of yet, though, there aren't any head-to-head comparisons of the health benefits of drinking red wine versus the sparkling kind, so go with what you like," says Andrew Waterhouse, Ph.D., a professor of wine chemistry at the University of California, Davis. Either way, your waistline won't suffer provided you sip responsibly: Both pack about 100 calories in a 5-ounce glass.