|
| |
Whats the Deal with Alcohol?
« Back To Articles
|
| |
Image Source: dt-4702142
|
|
Current Rating:
|
4
|
Votes: 2
Views: 849
|
|
|
There are many experts that are now giving conflicting studies that show how drinking alcoholic beverages can help or hurt people. But which studies should you ignore, and which ones should you pay attention to? It all depends on the information that you are looking for.
First, it must be stated that any thinking about drinking alcohol should do so in moderation—excessive or binge drinking is not healthy and can lead to alcohol poisoning and death.
According to new studies, scientists have credited a moderate amount of drinking each day to keeping our minds sharp, having a healthy heart, and lowering the risk of diabetes. And U.S. dietary guidelines even allow for one or two drinks per day for adults. This is good news for those who enjoy a glass or two of wine at dinner or those who drink socially on the weekends. But does this mean that those who don’t drink alcohol should start?
There are people who shouldn’t drink. Those who will see more harm than good from alcohol are those who already have a disease where the effects of alcohol can contribute to decline, such as high blood pressure, obesity (beer has a lot of calories), liver disease, and certain cancers. Other factors that will contribute in alcohol harming a person includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with family histories of alcohol abuse, children, those on medications that will interact with alcohol, and anyone with a history of pancreatitis.
But if you are a person that is in good health and likes to drink, you will find that moderate alcohol consumption can actually have health benefits. Moderate alcohol can raise the level of good cholesterol in the body that help prevent harmful blood clots and helps to keep the flow of blood smooth throughout the body. This in turn will reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
This raise in good cholesterol can be as high as 20% some people, which is equivalent to a person on a healthy diet with regular physical activity. You could also see this much improvement through cholesterol medication.
So how much should you drink and what type? Wine, beer, or spirits—that does not matter. The major factor is how much you drink. The dietary guidelines allow one drink for women and two for men. One drink is equal to one 12 ounce can of beer. It is also best to consume any alcohol you drink with meals.
© NowChic.com
|
Share Article:
 Email
| |
|
