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There’s been a lot of alcohol in the news recently. Several new studies have reported some additional risks of alcohol and in the behaviour that make us more likely to consume it. In the past, experts avoided making such recommendation because no studies existed where the correlation between the start of drinking wine or alcohol at the middle age and health have been established. There are critics who say that nondrinkers should definitely not start drinking since the existing research doesn’t yet support it.
DelWine has been a big promoter of wine and recommends a glass (women) or two (men) daily, preferably red wine and with dinner-though the colour or the timing are only as advisories. We strongly advise hard liquor drinkers to either shift to wine or make it a part of their cocktail of alcoholic beverages. But our message has been restricted to drinkers only. We have never encouraged non-drinkers to start drinking wine only for the health benefits. Although wine has been recommended by doctors as medicine for centuries, one cannot overlook the alcohol content in wine and other alcoholic drinks and the harm they can do when taken beyond a certain quantity.
Always, talk with your doctor if you have questions about alcohol use, particularly if you have current health problems or are taking medication. But here’s a rundown of what the research tells us are the health benefits and drawbacks of alcohol consumption as reported in Forbes and numerous articles in Indian Wine Academy and earlier in our associated website, www.DelhiWineClub.com
Heart health and strokes
A number of studies have found that moderate drinking (1-2 glasses of wine with 12.5% alcohol and 125 mL/drink) may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. Low to moderate alcohol use has been linked to a lower mortality rate even among people who have had heart attacks. The heart health benefits have been known in part to alcohol’s beneficial effect on HDL- the good cholesterol and decrease in LDL- the bad cholesterol although the mechanism may still not be fully comprehended.
Heart and health benefits of red wine are amplified in particular because the presence of antioxidants like Resveratrol may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, even though some recent research has disputed that. The American Heart Association (AHA) stresses that the heavier use of alcohol has a definite negative impact on heart health resulting in high triglycerides, high blood pressure and weight gain which increase the risk of heart disease.
Low to moderate alcohol intake has been linked to reduced risk of stroke, particularly in women, ostensibly due to its anti-coagulant properties. However, higher consumption, even more than two drinks a week in one study has been shown to increase the risk of stroke.
Cancer
Jury is still out on the effect of even small amounts of alcohol whereas higher amounts are positively harmful. There is fairly strong evidence that alcohol consumption is linked with certain cancers, like mouth etc. Connections to other types of cancer are more variable but the risk does seem to increase with higher levels of alcohol imbibed. Recent research has found that even light drinking can increase the risk of certain types of cancer, including mouth and breast.
Obesity and Type II Diabetes
Alcohol has long been linked to weight gain without much residual nutrition-a standard glass of white wine has about 90-100 calories whereas a red wine glass may have 110-120 calories. More drinks also imply extra calories in the food consumed. However, some studies have shown that light to moderate alcohol use is linked to a lower risk of becoming obese over time. Light to moderate alcohol consumption, particularly of wine, has also been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes but higher intake increases the risk. Again, this may be due to healthier lifestyle of wine drinkers who have controlled diet and perhaps exercise more regularly.
Bone and Joint Health
Light to moderate alcohol consumption seems to be good for bones with reduced risk of osteoporosis. Rheumatoid arthritis risk may also be reduced in women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol. Again, high alcohol intake seems to deteriorate bone health.
Sleep
Alcohol is not very good for sleeping through the night. A new study reveals that it may help you fall asleep faster but is also likely to cause disruption of restorative sleep during the night, as evidenced by changes in brain waves. In fact, the quality of sleep is significantly altered and disrupted that might lead to significant problems with cognition during waking hours. Another new study found that poor sleep in teenagers can be a precursor of problematic alcohol use and other risky behaviors years in future.
Dementia and depression
A few studies have suggested that light to moderate alcohol consumption may have some protective effects for dementia but heavy drinking is linked to increased risk for dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. Very heavy drinking is linked to a dementia-like disorder known as Korsakoff’s syndrome. Most studies have found co-relation between the amount of alcohol intake and depression. But one recent study finds that moderate consumption of wine reduces the risk of depression. The researchers suggest that this is perhaps due to anti-inflammatory properties of wine; inflammation is also believed to partially underlie depression.
Don’t mix wine with medication
A study released last week shows that over 40% of Americans and more than 75% of elderly Americans who drink, take simultaneously the alcohol interactive medications. This can be quite dangerous due to a variety of reasons. The effects of mixing medication and alcohol can range from stomach bleeding, hypoglycemia, severe sleepiness or dizziness. The researchers advise people to read the labels and discuss with their doctors whether wine or alcohol should be avoided completely or may still be consumed if staggered with medication use.
Continue drinking in moderation but don’t start
The article independently endorses and supports the viewpoint expressed strongly by delWine in several articles on wine and health (please visit the Wine and Health section on our website). No one generally disputes varying health benefits of wine or alcohol consumption in moderation. Imbibing higher levels of alcohol including binge drinking, is linked to more health risks than benefits to body and brain.
The general consensus is that if you are a moderate drinker, you may continue at that level. But if you are advised to start drinking after the age 40, it is a debatable issue, despite the author’s controversial suggestion that doctors should encourage the abstainer patients to go ahead and start drinking. Most experts would concur that there is not enough evidence yet to suggest that the benefits outweigh the risks. In any case, you should consult your doctor who knows your body metabolism rather than going by the advice dished out on the Internet.
For details on various studies linked with health and alcohol, you may visit the original Article in Forbes which has inspired this article or visit some of earlier articles as follows:
Bottle a Day Keeps Cardiologist Away
Red Wine May Get Thumbs up for Breast Cancer
Moderate Drinking May Lower Kidney Cancer Risk
Wine may prolong Life of Breast Cancer Survivors
Study Recommends Middle Age Drinking for Heart
Study: Med Diet and Wine reduce Risk of Heart Events
Women Glide to Healthy Old Age with Wine
Study finds Wine Lowers Heart Attack Risk in Women
Subhash Arora |