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Alcohol And Your Heart
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Alcohol And Your Heart

red wine pouring in a restaurant
1 min

The notion that an alcoholic drink or two per day is good for your heart isn’t a sure thing. Results of a new analysis suggest that studies showing that people who drink moderately have lower rates of heart disease compared to non-drinkers may not be the whole story. Researchers at Canada’s University of Victoria reviewed 45 earlier studies and theorized that some people identified as “non-drinkers” may have been former drinkers who quit for health reasons. That may be why the abstainers in previous studies were in worse health than the drinkers. Something else to consider: the fact that drinkers were healthier than non-drinkers in the studies may not be due to alcohol they consumed but to the good health that permitted them to continue enjoying a daily drink or two. The analysis did affirm that the drinkers in the 45 studies reviewed had a lower rate of heart disease than the non-drinkers. But the reviewers concluded that many were able to drink because they already were healthy – not that the alcohol was necessarily responsible for their good health.

My take? These conclusions are worth considering, but I doubt that they’ll be the final word on the subject. Even if we were sure that alcohol protects against heart disease, if you don’t drink, I wouldn’t suggest that you take up the habit as a way to support cardiovascular health. You have better alternatives – prudent diet and adequate exercise, for example. On the other hand, if you’re healthy and drink moderately, there’s no reason not to continue. My own drinking habits are quite modest. I enjoy premium Japanese sake once in a while and, less often, a glass of wine.

Source:

Tim Stockwell et al, “Alcohol Consumption and Mortality From Coronary Heart Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, May 21, 2017; 78 (3): 375 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2017.78.375

 

Also in this week’s bulletin:

  • Another Good Reason To Eat Chocolate
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If you are tired of too many prescriptions – and have had enough of taking medications for ailments that may not require them – then my new book may be for you: Mind Over Meds looks at the problem of overmedication, the science that shows drugs aren’t always the best option, as well as helpful, reliable integrative medicine approaches.

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

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