I've long heard suspicious rumors that alcohol might have positive effects on longivity. But this is the first actual case study I've seen of it. According to a study of Danes, "Over nearly six years, men who drank every day cut their risk of heart disease by 41 percent. Women who drank at least once a week cut their risk of heart disease by 36 percent or more." With men, the findings indicate that constant but small doses of alcohol are good for the heart. With women, large consumption seems to be the key.
It brings up issues, though. Armed with these new findings, people might try to justify dangerous drinking habits. The study specifically states that youth are not prone to these benefits, but still, idiots are idiots. There is also a risk of people hearing of this research and drinking daily, then slowly becoming alcoholic. An editorial put out by Anne Britton PhD states, ""I think you can drink every day and be moderate. A glass or two of your favorite drink doesn't sound like risky behavior. But having a few days free from alcohol seems healthy, just to make sure you are not addicted -- even in a mild way." Yeah, because it's that easy.
Like I said, idiots are idiots. I don't think this new medical relevation will save as many lives as hinder.
i did this too
Alcohol is not good for your heart. Antioxidants are, and they are found in most fruit juices--many of which we consume in their 'alcoholic' form.
~CallieV
Young people cannot benefit from this whatsoever. But in older adults who show the risk of getting heart disease, drinking in MODERATION, like one glass of wine a day, which I think CallieV is referring to, has shown to decrease their risk. The studies usually have specifically said wine. So I don't think that drinking 2 beers a day is going to have any beneficial effects. Many young people get hold of this research and use it as a justification for their binge drinking. I have been in a debate with friends about the hazards of drinking, and one guy tried to use this as part of his argument. "But drinking is actually healthy," he said to me. These are important findings for those in the age range and with the risk factors of obtaining heart disease but just dangerous for teens. Actually adults could take this and abuse it too. I guess it's like you said, idiots will be idiots.
I know that red wine is actually best for the heart. But as you say, it really has to be drank moderately.
Petty Piper,
Please don't confuse all alcohol with the health benefits of RED WINE. Only red wine has been proven to be heart healthy and as some have stated above it is due to the antioxident content. There is even a zoo in Africa that feeds small portions of red wine to chimps and apes (previously mixed in with their drinks -- nobody wants drunk monkeys!) because of the healthy effects :)
Which African country is Jacqulyn refering to in this case? There is nothing like that happening in Africa and please supply adequate and tangible evidence before you make wild comments.
Sorry, my mistake - the zoo is in Budapest, Hungary. But that doesn't change the intent of the information. Apes are still given red wine to improve heart function.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/22/hungary.apes.reut/
"please supply adequate and tangible evidence before you make wild comments."
How is my misnomer of the locale construed into a wild comment? If you google "red wine apes" you get a list of many articles all linking you to the Budapest zoo. The information was correct and the detail that wasn't correct has no real affect on the purpose.
I'd beg to defer about this blog but its interesting!