There are many contradictions when it comes to drinking alcohol and the potential positive or negative consequences it can bring.
Drinking alcohol can benefit your health and it can also be detrimental to your health.
Drinking alcohol can be good for your heart and possibly help you live longer, but it can also harm your heart and kill you earlier.
The key element in all these cases is how much alcohol you are consuming.
Moderate use may yield several significant benefits. Abuse or heavy use can be lethal.
Moderate use of alcohol means one to two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women or men over age 65.
One drink equals a 12ounces of beer, 4-5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled liquor.
For those following the moderate drinking guidelines, there may be some health benefits such as the following:
1) Moderate drinking may help to reduce your risk of developing heart disease and dying from it.
Studies have concluded that some people may show a slight increase in their HDL cholesterol levels due to moderate alcohol intake, according to the American Heart Association.
This increase in “good” cholesterol can also potentially be achieved through regular physical activity.
2) Moderate drinking may reduce your risk of ischemic stroke.
This can occur if blood flow to the brain is blocked or greatly reduced due to a blood clot. Blocked or narrowed arteries can also be contributors.
Some substances found in alcohol such as resveratrol may prevent blood platelets from sticking together (forming a blood clot). This could lower the risk for stroke and heart attack, the AHA reported.
3) Moderate drinking may reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
It is important to note that not everyone who drinks alcohol moderately will reap benefits. Studies have shown that older people and those who have existing factors for heart disease may benefit the most from moderate drinking.
Middle-aged and younger people can reap the same or better health benefits from an improved diet and regular exercise.
Experts caution that no one should begin drinking alcohol or drink more alcohol for any health benefits. The AHA does not recommend drinking alcohol in order to gain any potential health benefits, but rather to follow conventional methods to see health improvements.
The risks of heavy use of alcohol are many. They range from stroke and heart failure to increased risk of liver disease, certain cancers, accidental death or injury, and alcoholism.
Heavy drinking is defined as three drinks a day, or more than seven drinks a week for women or men over the age of 65. For men under the age of 65, heavy drinking is defined as more than four drinks a day, or 14 in a week.
For those without a personal or family history of alcoholism, having an occasional drink of alcohol may be enjoyable and provide some useful health benefits. And for some people, a drink a day may actually keep the doctor away after all.
Sources:
Mayoclinic.org. Web. 9 February 2015. “In depth: Alcohol”.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551?pg=2
Heart.org. Web. 9 February 2015. “Alcohol and heart disease.”
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Alcohol-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_305173_Article.jsp
Reviewed February 11, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith