| Evidence suggesting that alcohol is
| |
| | in subjects who consumed alcohol daily,
|
| "cardio-protective" first appeared in the
| |
| | the risk for heart disease was reduced by
|
| literature about 30 years ago. The
| |
| | 60% in diabetic patients, compared to a
|
| Framingham Heart Study [the longest
| |
| | 40% decrease in persons who did not have
|
| running population study of heart disease
| |
| | diabetes. Moderate alcohol intake also
|
| which began in 1948] provided the first
| |
| | decreases blood values for CRP
|
| solid evidence of this association. The
| |
| | [C-reactive protein], a metabolic marker
|
| relationship has now been confirmed by
| |
| | for inflammation (elevated when you are
|
| dozens of large population
| |
| | in an increased state of oxidative
|
| ["epidemiological"] studies. However,
| |
| | stress).
|
| physicians have been reluctant to
| |
| | The jury is still out as to whether or
|
| recommend alcohol consumption to patients
| |
| | not wine provides a better protective
|
| because of the well-known health
| |
| | effect compared to other forms of
|
| consequences of excessive drinking
| |
| | alcohol. Red wine is rich in flavonoids,
|
| [hypertension, liver disease, increased
| |
| | which slow down oxidation of LDL ["bad"]
|
| rates of cancer, violent or accidental
| |
| | cholesterol [which is one of the last
|
| death] and the horrors that are
| |
| | steps before it is deposited in your
|
| associated with "drinking and driving".
| |
| | artery wall]. One recent study suggested
|
| Moderation is the key. Many large studies
| |
| | that light drinkers who avoided wine
|
| have found that men and women who consume
| |
| | reduce their risk of all-cause mortality
|
| light to moderate amounts of alcohol per
| |
| | by 10%, while light drinkers who
|
| day live longer than those who abstain
| |
| | preferred wine had more than a 30%
|
| completely. The Physicians' Health Study
| |
| | decrease in this risk. However, other
|
| involved long term follow-up of 89,300
| |
| | studies have found that all forms of
|
| men. The study found that men who drank
| |
| | alcohol [beer, whiskey, etc.] were
|
| five or six alcoholic drinks per week had
| |
| | equally protective.
|
| a 20% lower risk of all-cause mortality
| |
| | It is important to emphasize that alcohol
|
| than those who drank no alcohol. On the
| |
| | [of ANY kind!] should be limited to one
|
| other hand, the same study showed that
| |
| | drink daily for women and at most two
|
| men who had more than two alcoholic
| |
| | drinks daily for men [this is based
|
| drinks per day had a higher risk of death
| |
| | merely on general body size and nothing
|
| than nondrinkers. That means that, when
| |
| | else]. One drink is defined as 1.5 oz of
|
| drinking moderately, it appears to be
| |
| | distilled spirits (such as whisky, gin,
|
| quite beneficial; however, higher alcohol
| |
| | and vodka), 5 oz of wine, or 12 oz of
|
| intake increases the risks of cancer and
| |
| | beer. Patients who have liver disease,
|
| motor vehicle accidents so much as to
| |
| | who have a personal or family history of
|
| overwhelm any cardiovascular benefits.
| |
| | alcohol abuse, or who cannot limit their
|
| How does alcohol protect the heart? A
| |
| | intake in a responsible manner should NOT
|
| large portion of the benefit may be
| |
| | start! However, since "all things in
|
| attributable to increased levels of HDL
| |
| | moderation" is a good adage for much of
|
| ["good] cholesterol. Alcohol also has
| |
| | life, others can enjoy a daily alcoholic
|
| "antiplatelet" effects [making these
| |
| | drink as part of a generally healthy
|
| natural blood elements less sticky and
| |
| | diet.
|
| then less likely to clog arteries during
| |
| | Disclaimer: If you are under 18,
|
| plaque rupture] in much the same way as
| |
| | pregnant, nursing or have health
|
| aspirin.
| |
| | problems, consult your physician before
|
| Moderate alcohol consumption may also
| |
| | starting any weight loss plan. The
|
| help improve insulin resistance, which is
| |
| | information here is not intended as a
|
| just about one step below true diabetes
| |
| | substitute for medical advice. Please
|
| and recognized as another independent
| |
| | consult your physician before beginning
|
| predictor for cardiac risk. The
| |
| | any course of treatment.
|
| Physicians' Health Study also showed that
| |
| |
|
