After years of urging alcohol abstinence, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shocked the nation in 1995 by conceding that “drinking in moderation may lower risk for coronary heart disease, mainly among men over age 45 and women over age 55.”
Wine contains resveratrol, which is said to keep blood thin and prevent the formation of plaque in our arteries. Red wine contains larger amounts of resveratrol than white wine, and red wine from cool climates has the largest amounts of resveratrol. Wine is also said to reduce LDL, the “bad“ cholesterol while raising HDL, the “good” cholesterol in your blood.
“However, resveratrol has not been conclusively studied, so don’t choose to drink wine based on hearsay,” says Alisa Yang, M.D., an HMF internist.
Before you make tracks to the nearest Trader Joe’s or BevMo, take a moment to balance the benefits of drinking alcohol with your personal risk for other health conditions. While moderate alcohol consumption may improve some cholesterol, it can also raise the level of triglycerides, another “bad“ cholesterol.
Recent studies have also found that too much alcohol, whether it is wine, beer or spirits, is linked to an increased risk for breast cancer in women, and an increased risk of mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, and liver cancers in both men and women.
Because alcohol is metabolized through the liver, too much alcohol can result in damage such as fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and even cirrhosis. Individuals with personal or strong family history of alcohol abuse, previous hemorrhagic stroke, liver or pancreatic disease, or cancer should definitely stay away from alcohol. As should pregnant women, and, of course, operators of potentially dangerous equipment or machinery.
In addition, if you have nerve problems, insomnia, or stomachaches, drinking alcohol can make these symptoms worse.
One glass of wine may contain as many calories as a small dessert. With more and more Americans trying to get to a healthy weight, these precious calories are better spent on foods with higher nutritional value than alcohol!
So what should you do? If you don’t drink now, don’t start. The same amount of resveratrol in alcohol can be found in a cup of red grapes or a half-cup of grape juice. While red wine may contain some antioxidants, they are not absorbed well by the body. These same antioxidants are better found in most fruits and dark leafy vegetables.
How much wine is considered healthy? Women should limit their intake to no more than 4 to 5 ounces per day. Men should have no more than 8 to 10 ounces of wine per day.
If your body size is smaller than average, that amount should be even less.
“Women and men ages 65 and older are particularly sensitive to having memory problems, accidents, and falls after drinking even one glass of alcohol,” says Dr. Yang. “Ask your HMF doctor how much alcohol is appropriate for you.”
Alcohol is a risk factor that you can control. Whether you raise a glass of Merlot or a glass of grape juice, let’s toast your health in 2010!
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Alcohol calories can sneak up on you:
1 gram carb = 4 calories
1 gram protein = 4 calories
1 gram fat = 9 calories
1 gram alcohol = 7 calories
At cocktail parties and other social events, order a spritzer: a glass filled with equal parts white wine and sparkling water, “It tastes just like champagne,” says Claudia De. Vecchio, HMF’s dietitian.