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