The answer to whether moderate alcohol consumption benefits health is not black and white. Yes, there are some benefits, but there are also some risks, even with moderate alcohol use. Making wise choices requires educating yourself about both the positive and negative impacts of alcohol use.
The Upside
All types of alcohol raise your HDL, or "good cholesterol," levels, according to New York University nutrition professor Lisa Young. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, helps remove saturated fat from your bloodstream and reduces your risk of arteriosclerosis. MayoClinic.com states that moderate alcohol use can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, gallstones and possibly diabetes. Both beer and wine contain antioxidants, which help neutralize destructive particles called free radicals that can cause cell damage. A review of drinking patterns among Mediterranean populations, published in the journal "Angiology" in 2008, found that moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower rates of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and peripheral artery disease.
The Downside
Alcohol consumption has numerous deleterious health effects, and rather than use the positive effects to justify consumption, a more honest approach is to evaluate both aspects of alcohol consumption. Drinking increases your risk of liver and breast cancer. Moderate consumption of one to two drinks a day likely raises a woman's breast cancer risk by up to 10 percent, according to a study cited in "Fitness." Pregnant women risk miscarriage and birth defects by consuming alcohol. Liver cirrhosis, heart muscle damage and stroke are also linked to alcohol consumption.
What is "Moderation"?
Young says that to accentuate the positive aspects of alcohol consumption while avoiding the negative, you need to limit your consumption of alcohol to one or two drinks daily. A "drink" is considered to be 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine or 1.1 oz. of hard liquor. Also keep in mind that the benefits of moderate alcohol use may only help you if you are older. For middle-aged and younger adults the effects of alcohol use can be more harmful than beneficial.
A Word About Addiction
If you have addictive tendencies, it's best to avoid alcohol altogether, according to "Fitness." The destructive power of addiction can overpower your ability to remain moderate in your alcohol consumption. The mental, emotional and physical effects of alcoholism will make any possible health benefits seem puny in comparison. If you are an alcoholic, don't kid yourself: when it comes to consuming alcohol, the risks far outweigh the benefits.
References
- "Fitness"; The Health Benefits of Alcohol; Jocelyn Voo; November 2007
- MayoClinic.com; Alcohol use: If you drink, keep it moderate; March 2011
- "Angiology"; Association of Drinking Pattern and Alcohol Beverage Type with the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Peripheral Arterial Disease in a Mediterranean Cohort; Vasilios G. Athyros, et al.; December/January 2008
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