Does Wine Give You Heartburn or Allergy-Like Symptoms? These Drops Will Allow You to Enjoy a Glass

I love sipping a glass of wine especially on the weekends as a treat to myself. But sometimes, I’ll feel a mini headache or a slight burning sensation in my throat about halfway through drinking the glass, which is my sign to have more water to nix that feeling. After doing some digging, I came across these $8 wine drops that are supposed to eliminate any wine allergy symptoms and decided to see if they really worked!

While searching online for ways to avoid this issue, I was relieved to know that I wasn’t the only one going through this. A study published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International found, nine percent of the 519 women who participated experienced wine allergy-like symptoms such as flushed skin, itching, and nasal congestion. The study’s authors linked these symptoms to the amount of sulfites — the preservatives used to maintain freshness and flavor that can easily be absorbed by the body — in the wine. Other symptoms from a wine allergy might include digestive upset like ingestion, nausea, or heartburn along with headaches, shortness of breath, and swelling in the throat, mouth, or lips.

To avoid this, you can buy a wine purifier, which will remove those sulfites and preservatives similar to a water filter so you don’t end up drinking them. However, they can be pricey depending on the brand and are an additional tool to clean after you finish having a glass or two of wine (no thanks!). You can also try natural wine — since it’s not made with sulfites, you might not experience those symptoms. But, you’ll need to enjoy it quickly because it might only last a day after being uncorked compared to most commercial wines, which can last up to a week after being opened due to the preservatives. 

I decided to test out a cheaper and mess-free option that did just the trick: wine drops. Wine drops like Wine Magic Purifier Drops (Buy on Amazon, $7.49) are made with food-safe hydrogen peroxide. This is a diluted form of hydrogen peroxide that’s often used as an antibacterial wash for veggies and can be found in toothpaste or mouthwash. It’s safe to consume in small amounts so Wine Magic recommends using just one drop for a 150 ml glass and five drops for a 750 ml bottle. Also, try to avoid it getting on your skin or eyes because it can cause irritation.

The great news is these drops are clear and odorless so it won’t affect the flavor at all and can be used for red, white wine, rosé as well as champagne!

I had a bottle of Moscato on hand so I placed one drop of the Wine Magic liquid into a glass and swirled it around for a few seconds before drinking. After the first three or four sips, I didn’t feel a headache or my throat tingling at all like I usually would. That was a great first impression for me. Before I knew it, I nearly finished the glass without needing to reach for water to clear up any discomfort. 

Overall, I loved the fact that these drops were basically my secret weapon to reducing the chances of those bothersome symptoms flaring up. Plus, I didn’t miss out on any of the bright and fruity flavor notes from the Moscato. I even allowed myself to sip another glass with a wine drop added and felt fine afterwards. I’ll definitely be using these wine drops again and trying them out with different types of wine so that can I enjoy it a little more often!

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