When people think about being healthy, they don’t think about shots, beer, and wine.

It’s more like thoughts of eating chicken and broccoli, running countless miles on the treadmill, and eliminating anything enjoyable, start to come to mind. Little do they know that they could be taking shots of vodka and reap the benefits of drinking alcohol that dieting and exercising offer. It’s not just vodka that offers health benefits; beer, wine, and all other types of alcohol offer the same great health benefits as well.

This doesn’t mean, go run off to the nearest bar and start downing drink after drink. There is a huge difference between getting wasted and drinking just a little alcohol. Binge drinking can introduce many health problems, even if it doesn’t happen frequently. In order to experience the multiple health benefits of drinking alcohol, the key word you must remember is “moderation.”


How much is a “moderate amount”?

This is an area that isn’t as clear cut as the evidence supporting the health benefits of drinking alcohol. The word “moderation” can be defined differently and is based on the consumer’s health and family history, age, and sex. It’s not solely based on how much you drink in one setting, but also how frequently you drink alcohol as well. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men is moderation and provides the benefits of drinking alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers a more detailed guideline for moderate drinking; recommending that women consume no more than three drinks a day with an average of seven drinks per week and men consume no more than four drinks a day with an average of fourteen drinks of alcohol per week.


What constitutes as one drink of alcohol?

A standard drink of alcohol is classified as:

  • 1 ½ ounces of 80 proof liquor
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 12 ounces of regular beer

What are the main benefits of drinking alcohol moderately?

A reduced risk of cardiovascular and heart disease is a primary benefit of drinking alcohol moderately. In the United States alone, heart disease kills around one million Americans per year and cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death. Multiple medical studies show that men and women, who drink at least 3 days a week, have fewer heart attacks and have longer lives than those who abstain from drinking alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has shown that moderately drinking alcohol can decrease the risk of heart disease by 40-60 percent.


How does moderately drinking alcohol reduce cardiovascular and heart disease?

The main contributing factor alcohol has on heart health, is it’s effects on the blood vessels and arteries.

Alcohol

  • increases the elasticity of arteries,
  • decreases LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol),
  • increases HDL cholesterol (the so-called good cholesterol), and
  • decreases thrombosis (blood clotting).
  • acts as a blood thinner and lowers blood pressure

As a result, blockages in the arteries leading to the heart and brain are reduced.


Isn’t exercise enough, to lower the risk of cardiovascular and heart disease?

Exercising and moderately drinking both lower the risk of cardiovascular and heart disease. The lowest risk is found with those who drink moderately and exercise. Those who moderately drink and don’t exercise have a lower risk of cardiovascular and heart disease than those that abstain from drinking and exercise entirely.

What other health benefits are associated with a moderate consumption of alcohol?

Medical studies have shown that men and women that engage in a moderate consumption of alcohol have a lowered risk of developing Type-II diabetes mellitus than those who abstain from drinking. Alcohol reduces blood insulin levels and improves the sensitivity of insulin in the body, which helps prevent the onset of Type-II diabetes.

Research has found that men and women who drink alcohol frequently have a higher resistance level to five different strains of the common cold virus. The greatest resistance was in those who had 2-3 drinks daily and resistance was lower in those who consumed less.

The American Stroke Association has stated a benefit of drinking alcohol moderately has a positive effect on HDL cholesterol levels and can reduce the risk of stroke by 50 percent.


Other benefits of drinking alcohol include a reduced risk of developing:

  • Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementia
  • Different kinds of Arthritis
  • An enlarged prostate in men
  • Osteoporosis (weakening of the bones)
  • Gallbladder Disease
  • Cancer – Kidney, Lymphoma, Pancreatic, and Thyroid

Remember, Moderation is the only way to experience the benefits of drinking alcohol. Over-drinking/binge-drinking is not only dangerous, but will eliminate the possible benefits of drinking alcohol, reduce your life span, and expose you to an array of diseases. There is a huge difference between drinking one alcoholic beverage a day and drinking 15 drinks in one sitting.

If you

  • can control yourself
  • are considered “medically healthy and capable of”
  • are of age

Drink up, your body will thank you with improved health! CHEERS!

If you or anyone you know is struggling with drugs or alcohol, please contact someone that can help. I’ve seen way to many people die because they didn’t get the help they needed soon enough.