How Wine & Shine Supports Your Body After Wine: The Complete Ingredient Guide

Understanding why wine disrupts your sleep and body is the first step. The next step is knowing what you can do about it.

This guide explains exactly how Wine & Shine supports your body after wine — organized around the four areas where wine drinkers need it most. Each section covers the problem, the ingredients, and the science behind why they were chosen.

Wine & Shine was engineered specifically for wine’s unique chemistry. Not generic alcohol support. Not a one-ingredient fix. A complete formula built for what’s actually in your glass.

Table of Contents

1. Benefit 1: Sleep Through the Night
2. Benefit 2: Wake-Up Feeling Refreshed
3. Benefit 3: Liver Support
4. Benefit 4: Wine-Specific Support
5. Why the Formula Works Together

Benefit 1: Sleep Through the Night

Falling asleep after wine usually isn’t the problem — staying asleep is.

As ethanol clears your system, your brain triggers a GABA rebound. Glutamate — the excitatory neurotransmitter — surges to compensate for the artificial GABA suppression alcohol created. Cortisol rises simultaneously. The result is that jarring 2 to 3am wake-up: racing thoughts, heart pounding, body alert when it should be resting. Histamines compound this further in red wine drinkers, promoting wakefulness at exactly the wrong time.

Wine & Shine addresses sleep continuity through three primary ingredients working in concert

Vine Tea Extract (DHM / Dihydromyricetin), 600mg

What it does: DHM modulates GABA-A receptors without over-activating them, preventing the dramatic rebound effect that causes the 3am wake-up. It acts as a buffer — supporting more stable neurotransmitter balance as alcohol clears your system.

The science: A landmark 2012 study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that DHM blocks ethanol-induced GABA-A receptor potentiation in animal models, directly addressing the primary mechanism behind middle-of-the-night wake-ups. A 2023 study in Frontiers in Nutrition confirmed DHM increases ADH and ALDH enzyme activity while reducing liver inflammation and oxidative damage.

Note on attribution: The GABA rebound is caused by ethanol metabolism itself — DHM works by modulating the receptor response to that rebound, not by addressing acetaldehyde directly (that’s L-Cysteine’s job).

L-Theanine, 200mg

What it does: L-Theanine promotes alpha brain waves — the calm, relaxed state between wakefulness and sleep — and supports natural GABA production without causing dependency or sedation. It works synergistically with DHM: DHM prevents the rebound, L-Theanine supports the natural calm your brain needs to stay asleep.

The science: A 2024 systematic review published in Proceedings (MDPI) found consistent improvement in sleep quality, sleep latency, and relaxation with L-Theanine supplementation across multiple human studies.

Unique benefit: Promotes calm without sedation — important for middle-of-the-night support when you need to settle your nervous system without additional drowsiness.

L-Ornithine HCl, 400mg

What it does: L-Ornithine supports healthy cortisol balance overnight. As your liver metabolizes alcohol, cortisol can spike — signaling your body to wake up precisely when you should be in deep sleep. L-Ornithine helps buffer this stress hormone elevation.

The science: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial found that 400mg L-Ornithine — the exact dose in Wine & Shine — reduced salivary cortisol and feelings of fatigue the morning after alcohol consumption. A 2014 randomized controlled trial in Nutrition Journal also demonstrated improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue compared to placebo.

Supporting ingredients: Vitamin B6 (P5P, 10mg) supports neurotransmitter synthesis and acts as a cofactor for GABA production. Folate (L-5-MTHF, 400mcg) supports methylation pathways essential for neurotransmitter regulation.

The combined effect: DHM prevents the GABA rebound. L-Theanine supports natural calm. L-Ornithine buffers the cortisol surge. Together they address the three primary mechanisms driving middle-of-the-night wake-ups after wine.

Supporting Players:

• Vitamin B6 (P5P), 10mg: Critical for neurotransmitter synthesis

• Folate (L 5 MTHF), 400mcg: Supports methylation pathways essential for neurotransmitter production

The synergy effect: DHM prevents the rebound, L Theanine supports natural GABA production, and L Ornithine provides additional balance, creating comprehensive sleep continuity support without the 3 AM jolt.

Benefit 2: Wake-Up Feeling Refreshed

Wine depletes the nutrients your body needs most — including the very nutrients that run the metabolic processes involved in clearing alcohol and its byproducts.

Alcohol metabolism consumes zinc, B vitamins, and drives down glutathione production. This creates a self-defeating loop: wine depletes what your body needs to process wine efficiently. The result shows up the next day as cognitive fog, low energy, and feeling off despite a full night in bed.

Wine & Shine replenishes what wine takes, supporting your body’s natural overnight processes so you wake feeling like yourself.

L-Cysteine HCl Monohydrate, 600mg

What it does: L-Cysteine is a direct acetaldehyde scavenger. Its thiol group (-SH) chemically binds acetaldehyde — the toxic intermediate produced when your liver breaks down ethanol — forming a non-toxic compound for excretion. L-Cysteine is also the rate-limiting precursor to glutathione, your body’s master antioxidant.

The science: A 2020 randomized controlled trial published in Alcohol and Alcoholism found that L-Cysteine at 600mg significantly reduced stress and discomfort compared to placebo after alcohol consumption. A 2016 study in Free Radical Biology & Medicine confirmed L-Cysteine protects against alcohol-induced oxidative damage via glutathione support.

Why this matters for wine specifically: Quercetin — a polyphenol found in high concentrations in red wine — inhibits ALDH2, the enzyme that clears acetaldehyde. This means wine’s own compounds slow acetaldehyde clearance more than other forms of alcohol. L-Cysteine provides a direct chemical route around this bottleneck.

Zinc Picolinate, 7.5mg

What it does: Zinc is a structural cofactor for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) — the primary enzyme your liver uses to break down ethanol. Without adequate zinc, ADH function is impaired. Alcohol acutely depletes zinc, which is why replenishing it matters for efficient metabolism.

The science: Picolinate is the highest-bioavailability form of zinc, chosen specifically because efficient absorption is essential when the goal is supporting active metabolic processes overnight.

Note: GI-level absorption competition between Zinc and L-Cysteine is why Wine & Shine recommends taking with food.

B Vitamin Complex — Restoring What Wine Depletes

Alcohol metabolism consumes B vitamins at every stage. These aren’t optional additions — they’re cofactors for the enzymatic processes your body relies on overnight. Wine & Shine uses active, bioavailable forms that don’t require conversion, because when your body is dealing with alcohol metabolism, it needs nutrients it can use immediately.

Benfotiamine (B1), 25mg

What it does: Fat-soluble, superior-bioavailability form of B1. Alcohol is one of the leading causes of B1 deficiency. Benfotiamine supports the thiamine-dependent enzymes critical for energy metabolism and cellular protection during alcohol processing.

The science: A 2003 study in Diabetologia demonstrated that Benfotiamine enhances aldehyde detoxification and reduces oxidative stress, supporting efficient clearance of alcohol’s byproducts.

Niacinamide (B3), 20mg

What it does: Supports NAD+ production, which is heavily consumed during alcohol metabolism. NAD+ is essential for the oxidation-reduction reactions that convert ethanol to acetaldehyde and then to acetate. Replenishing it supports cellular energy balance.

The science: Niacinamide form specifically chosen over niacin to avoid the flushing response. Mechanistically sound: alcohol metabolism is one of the clearest documented causes of NAD+ depletion.

Vitamin B6 (P5P), 10mg

What it does: P5P is the active, immediately bioavailable form of B6. It supports amino acid metabolism including cysteine processing (enhancing L-Cysteine’s effectiveness), acts as a cofactor for histamine metabolism, and supports GABA and serotonin synthesis.

The science: A 1985 review in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences established P5P’s essential role in GABA and serotonin synthesis and its function as a cofactor for histamine metabolism. Active form chosen over standard pyridoxine HCl for immediate bioavailability.

Folate (L-5-MTHF), 400mcg

What it does: Active methylfolate form. Supports methylation — the biochemical process essential for neurotransmitter production, DNA repair, and liver detox pathways. Alcohol impairs folate absorption and depletes stores meaningfully.

The science: Active L-5-MTHF form chosen over folic acid because it doesn’t require enzymatic conversion, which can be impaired in individuals with MTHFR variants — a common genetic variation.

The combined effect: L-Cysteine neutralizes acetaldehyde and boosts glutathione. Zinc keeps your alcohol-processing enzyme running. B1, B3, B6, and Folate restore the cellular energy and metabolic capacity alcohol depletes. Together they support your body’s natural overnight processes so you wake feeling refreshed and clear.

Benefit 3: Liver Support

Your liver does the heavy lifting while you sleep. Every glass of wine you drink passes through it — converted from ethanol to acetaldehyde, then to acetate, and finally cleared. This is demanding work, and it creates oxidative stress at the cellular level throughout.

Liver support in Wine & Shine is distinct from alcohol metabolism support. Metabolism is about clearing compounds efficiently. Liver support is about protecting the tissue doing that work.

Vine Tea Extract (DHM / Dihydromyricetin), 600mg

What it does: DHM provides direct liver cell protection during alcohol metabolism — reducing inflammation, supporting healthy enzyme activity, and protecting hepatocytes from oxidative damage. This is a distinct function from DHM’s GABA modulation: one addresses your brain’s sleep chemistry, the other addresses your liver’s cellular health.

The science: A 2023 study in Frontiers in Nutrition demonstrated DHM increases ADH and ALDH enzyme activity while reducing liver inflammation and oxidative damage in alcohol-exposed liver cells. A 2021 study in Molecules confirmed DHM up-regulates ADH and ALDH expression, supporting faster and cleaner alcohol processing. The NIH LiverTox database reports safe short-term human use at 300–1000mg daily.

L-Cysteine HCl Monohydrate, 600mg

What it does: Beyond its direct acetaldehyde neutralization, L-Cysteine is the rate-limiting precursor to glutathione — your body’s primary cellular antioxidant. Glutathione is heavily consumed during alcohol metabolism as your liver works to neutralize oxidative stress. L-Cysteine replenishes the supply.

The science: A 2016 study in Free Radical Biology & Medicine confirmed L-Cysteine protects against alcohol-induced oxidative damage via glutathione support. Monohydrate form specifically chosen for superior stability and shelf life compared to free-form L-Cysteine.

Supporting Liver Cofactors

The following ingredients support liver function as cofactors for the enzymatic processes running throughout alcohol metabolism:

• Zinc Picolinate (7.5mg): Structural cofactor for ADH. Without zinc, your liver’s primary alcohol-processing enzyme cannot function properly.*

• Benfotiamine B1 (25mg): Supports thiamine-dependent enzymes and helps protect against alcohol-induced cellular damage.*

• Niacinamide B3 (20mg): Cofactor for ADH enzyme and NAD+ production essential for liver metabolism.*

• Molybdenum Glycinate (100mcg): Cofactor for aldehyde oxidase and sulfite oxidase — supporting both acetaldehyde and sulfite processing at the enzymatic level.*

The combined effect: DHM protects liver cells and supports healthy enzyme activity. L-Cysteine boosts glutathione to neutralize cellular oxidative stress. Zinc, B vitamins, and Molybdenum provide the cofactors liver enzymes need to run efficiently all night.

Benefit 4: Wine-Specific Support

This is where Wine & Shine is most differentiated. Beer and spirits don’t require this section. Wine does.

Wine contains histamines, sulfites, and polyphenols that don’t exist in other alcohol the same way. These aren’t minor factors — histamines directly promote wakefulness, sulfites affect sensitive drinkers, and polyphenols like quercetin slow your body’s ability to clear alcohol’s most toxic byproduct. No generic alcohol supplement addresses any of this. Wine & Shine was built specifically for it.

Histamine Support

Red wine contains 60 to 3,800 micrograms per liter of histamine — up to 200% more than white wine and orders of magnitude more than spirits. Alcohol simultaneously inhibits DAO, the enzyme your gut uses to break down histamine, creating a compounding effect: more histamine coming in, less clearance capacity. Histamine is a wake-promoting neurotransmitter, which is why this hits you in the middle of the night.

Stinging Nettle 20:1 Extract, 50mg

What it does: Acts as a natural antihistamine, inhibiting mast cell degranulation — preventing histamine release — and reducing the inflammatory response to histamine already present. The 20:1 concentration means 50mg delivers the equivalent of 1,000mg of raw stinging nettle.

The science: Mechanistic evidence supports Stinging Nettle’s inhibition of histamine release from mast cells. This is the wine-specific differentiator most absent from competitor formulas — because most supplements aren’t formulated for wine drinkers specifically.

Vitamin B6 (P5P), 10mg

What it does: Acts as a cofactor for histamine metabolism, supporting your body’s natural histamine clearance alongside Stinging Nettle’s inhibition of release. A dual approach: block new histamine activity, support clearance of existing histamine.

The science: A 1985 review in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences established P5P’s function as a cofactor for histamine metabolism in addition to its neurotransmitter synthesis roles.

Sulfite Support

All wines contain naturally occurring sulfites. White wines typically contain more (75 to 150 ppm vs. 10 to 40 ppm in reds). For those with sulfite sensitivity, this can cause respiratory discomfort, headaches, and general restlessness. It’s worth noting that many symptoms commonly attributed to sulfites are actually caused by histamines or acetaldehyde — but for those who genuinely react to sulfites, targeted support matters.

Molybdenum Glycinate, 100mcg

What it does: Molybdenum is the essential cofactor for sulfite oxidase — the enzyme your body uses to convert sulfites into sulfate for safe excretion. Without adequate molybdenum, sulfite oxidase cannot function properly. Glycinate chelate form chosen for optimal stability and bioavailability.

The science: A 2013 comprehensive review in Metallomics details molybdenum-dependent enzymes including sulfite oxidase and their critical importance in human sulfite metabolism. A 2016 clinical review in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases provides detailed biochemical understanding of sulfite oxidase’s role in sulfite-to-sulfate conversion.

Safe and well-tolerated: the Upper Tolerable Limit is 2,000mcg per day. Wine & Shine’s 100mcg is well within safe range.

The combined effect: Stinging Nettle blocks histamine release. B6 supports histamine clearance. Molybdenum enables sulfite processing. These three ingredients address the compounds unique to wine that no other supplement category has been built to handle.

Why the Formula Works Together

Individual ingredients are effective on their own. But the real power of Wine & Shine is in how the ingredients interact across the four benefits simultaneously.

DHM + L-Cysteine: Dual Acetaldehyde Defense

DHM accelerates enzymatic breakdown of acetaldehyde by upregulating ADH and ALDH. L-Cysteine neutralizes acetaldehyde directly through chemical binding. One speeds up the clearance pathway. The other catches what gets through. Together they minimize acetaldehyde exposure from two directions simultaneously.

L-Theanine + DHM: Complete Sleep Continuity

DHM prevents the GABA rebound by modulating receptor response to ethanol clearance. L-Theanine supports natural GABA production and promotes alpha brain wave activity. One addresses what wine takes away. The other supports what your brain needs to stay calm. Neither causes dependency or sedation.

Stinging Nettle + B6: Histamine Control

Stinging Nettle inhibits histamine release at the mast cell level. B6 supports your body’s natural histamine clearance enzymes. One blocks new histamine activity. The other supports clearance of existing histamine. Together they address the red wine histamine challenge from both directions.

B Complex + Zinc + Molybdenum: Metabolic Foundation

B1, B3, B6, Folate, Zinc, and Molybdenum are all cofactors for the enzymes running alcohol metabolism. All are depleted by alcohol consumption. Replenishing them isn’t supplementation — it’s replacing what wine actively takes so your body’s own systems can function properly throughout the night.

What Makes Wine & Shine Different

Most supplements in this category focus almost entirely on liver support — typically a single high-dose DHM product. Wine & Shine took a different approach from the start.

1. Built specifically for wine, not generic alcohol

Beer and spirits don’t require histamine support, targeted sulfite processing, or ingredients to address polyphenol-driven acetaldehyde accumulation. Wine does. Wine & Shine was formulated for wine’s specific chemistry — which is why Stinging Nettle and Molybdenum are in the formula when they appear in almost no competitor product.

2. Sleep-first formula design

Most alcohol supplements are recovery-focused — designed for the morning after. Wine & Shine was designed for the night of. The priority is supporting uninterrupted sleep, because waking up rested is more important than simply feeling less bad in the morning. That’s why L-Theanine, DHM, and L-Ornithine lead the formula rather than serving as supporting players.

3. Active, bioavailable forms throughout

Wine & Shine uses P5P (active B6), L-5-MTHF (active Folate), Benfotiamine (fat-soluble B1), and Zinc Picolinate (highest-bioavailability zinc) — not the cheaper synthetic forms found in most supplements. When your body is actively processing alcohol overnight, it needs nutrients in forms it can use immediately, not forms that require additional enzymatic conversion.

4. No proprietary blends

Every ingredient and every dose is disclosed. No mystery formulas. No padding. No ingredient listed for marketing purposes at a dose too low to be effective. Each of the 11 ingredients has a documented reason to be in the formula at the dose it’s included.

5. Health-forward, not remedial

Wine & Shine was designed for wine drinkers who take their wellness seriously — not for people who overdid it. It belongs alongside your magnesium and omega-3s, not next to aspirin and Gatorade. The goal is supporting your body proactively so you wake up feeling like yourself, not compensating after the fact.

The Bottom Line

Wine & Shine is a comprehensive wellness formula designed specifically for wine drinkers who want to support their body without giving up the wine they love.

• Sleep through the night by addressing the GABA rebound, cortisol surge, and histamine wakefulness signals that wine triggers

• Wake up feeling refreshed by replenishing what alcohol depletes and neutralizing its most harmful byproduct

• Support your liver with direct cellular protection and the cofactors its enzymes need to work efficiently overnight

• Address wine’s unique chemistry — histamines, sulfites, and polyphenols — that no generic alcohol supplement was built for

11 ingredients. Every one chosen for a specific reason. Formulated for wine, and nothing else.

Take Wine & Shine before or with your first glass of wine. Give your body the targeted support it needs to process wine’s unique compounds efficiently — and wake up feeling completely like yourself.

Resources for Further Reading

Why Wine Disrupts Your Sleep: The Science Behind Those 3 AM Wake-Ups

The Complete Guide to Wine and Sleep: Everything You Need to Know

Full Ingredient List and Research

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This guide is regularly updated with the latest research. Last updated: February 2026.