DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE CONTAINS A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE ABOVE TOPIC. IT IS NOT HEALTH ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY UPON THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE. YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WELL REQUIRE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT APPROACH. YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR MEDICATIONS, DIET, ACTIVITY, LIFESTYLE, ETC. WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN YOUR AREA.
Alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease and leads to a small increase in longevity. All types of alcohol including beer, wine (white and red) and hard liquor have beneficial effects. While the beneficial effects of red wine are widely touted, it is controversial whether it is superior to other types of alcohol in preventing heart disease. The beneficial effects of alcohol require no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day or drinking at least three times a week.
Nobody is completely sure why alcohol is protective. It may be because it raises the level of good cholesterol in our blood or because it lessens inflammation in the walls of our arteries. In the case of red wine, it may be because red wine contains antioxidants called flavenoids or isoflavones which inhibit the development of atherosclerosis. It may also be due to the mild blood thinning effect that alcohol and flavenoids have. Flavenoids are also found in other alcoholic beverages such as dark beer. Inflammation plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis and consumption of one to two alcoholic beverages a day (but not more than that) appears to have an antiinflammatory effect.
No one is advised to drink alcohol if they don't like it simply for medicinal purposes. More than 2 drinks a day can be deleterious to health. Of course, alcohol should be avoided entirely by alcoholics, pregnant women, people with liver disease and people who take certain kinds of medications.
Women are more sensitive to alcoholic drinks. No more than one alcoholic beverage a day is recommended for women while men may have up to two a day.
The antioxidant substances in red wine are also found in non-alcoholic grape juice. There is evidence that drinking grape juice helps prevent heart disease too.
By the way, how do doctors define what one drink of alcohol is? It is either 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
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