The effect of alcohol
consumption on your health can be either positive or negative, depending on the
amount you drink. Like most things, moderation is the key to getting the
greatest benefits from alcohol. Those who drink moderately generally live
longer and in better health than those who either abstain completely or drink
heavily.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA), moderate drinking lowers your risk of heart disease by 40
to 60 percent. And people who normally consume one or two drinks daily have the
lowest rate of mortality, according to the Nutrition Committee of the American
Heart Association. The mortality rates of those who have suffered a heart
attack are 32 percent lower than those of abstainers. The moderate consumption
of alcohol leads to a lower incidence of strokes and can reduce your risk of
cancer, heart disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, osteoporosis
and prostate problems.
A European study found greater arterial elasticity in
volunteers who had a drink of beer, wine or spirits each day, compared to those
who were abstainers. In another study of over 18,000 men from the Physicians
Health Study, those who increased the number of drinks they consumed from one to
six per week showed a 29 percent lower risk of contracting cardiovascular
disease. This was also found to be useful to diabetics, who achieved a 58
percent reduction in heart disease risk by consuming an alcoholic drink every
day.
Alcohol has been shown to increase your “good” HDL
cholesterol while reducing your “bad” LDL cholesterol, in addition to
decreasing clotting and increasing blood flow to your heart. A study published
in the Journal of the American Medical Association found the risk of stroke to be
cut in half for those who take two alcoholic beverages per day.
A standard drink is considered to be one:
• 12-ounce bottle or can of beer
• 5-ounce glass of wine
• 1 ½ ounce serving of distilled spirits (the equivalent of
a shot glass)
“Moderate” drinking is considered to be the consumption of
one to three alcoholic drinks per day, depending on your body size. Less than
that provides only minimal health benefits and more than that leads to a number
of health problems, including liver disease, cirrhosis, cancer, high blood
pressure and depression. The over-consumption of alcohol is one of the leading
causes of preventable death worldwide, according to a study in The Lancet.
Of course, those who are pregnant, suffering from alcoholism
or have adverse reactions to alcohol should abstain, as the benefits do not
outweigh the risks. But for most healthy adults, moderate alcohol consumption
will help them live longer and healthier lives.
About the Author:
Dr. Matt Ramirez graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Human Biology in 2004 and received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree in 2006. He specializes in auto injury recovery and rehabilitation and has enhanced and improved thousands of lives as well as treated people of all ages over the years. He is also an expert in health and wellness, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and more...
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