“Lechaim” To Life. A Hebrew drinking toast to someone or something. But is drinking really good for your life ?
There are several studies that say the a moderate amount of alcohol (1 drink per day for women and 2 for men) is beneficial for your heart. It dilates the blood vessels so your heart doesn’t have to work so hard and over time increases you good cholesterol (HDL) slightly. It may even decrease your risk of heart attack. No one, who drinks, will doubt that is also has a relaxing effect after that hard day at work. Some studies also say, a glass of wine will help you digest your dinner better.
There is some information that says that red wine is best, but most studies say alcohol in any form has similar properties. There are some things in red wine that keep your blood cells from sticking together and flavonoids that are antioxidants (also found in dark chocolate) that fight free radicals (bad guys) in your body.
What is a moderate amount? Well, like I said, one drink for women and two for men per day. So you don’t think that one drink means a 40 ounce beer, let me define it further.
One drink is about 12 ounces of beer (any kind), 5 ounces or wine, or 1 ½ ounces of liquor (whiskey, gin, whatever).
So what’s the bad side. (You knew this was coming.) You shouldn’t drink if you are an alcoholic, pregnant, or on medications that don’t combine well with alcohol, like aspirin or if you can’t stick with the moderate intake.
Drinking may increase risk of some diseases like liver disease, breast cancer, depression and some other cancers. Drinking is also implicated in about ½ of all fatal auto accidents in the U. S.
Remember, a glass of wine a day won’t cure everything. You still have to eat right and exercise, and NOT SMOKE, and maintain a normal weight.
So for those who imbibe moderately, Lechaim
Terri Lohman MS CNM FNP-BC
Reference links.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/alcohol.html
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4422
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_61281.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_61978.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001963.htm
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