An alcoholic drink a day can help keep heart disease at bay, according to a review of 30 years of research.

The work, published in the British Medical Journal, showed a 14% to 25% reduction in heart disease in moderate drinkers compared with people who had never drunk alcohol.

Another article, by the same Canadian research group, showed alcohol increased "good" cholesterol levels.

But experts said this was not a reason to start drinking.

For many years, studies have suggested that drinking alcohol in moderation has some health benefits.

Scientists at the University of Calgary reviewed 84 pieces of research between 1980 and 2009.
Reduced risk

One unit of alcohol in the UK, equivalent to half a pint of normal beer, contains 8g of pure alcohol.

This review showed that the overall risk of death was lower for those consuming small quantities of alcohol, 2.5g to 14.9g, compared with non-drinkers.

The researchers also say regular moderate drinking reduced all forms of cardiovascular disease by up to 25%.

However, while consuming small quantities of alcohol had a beneficial effect on the number of strokes and stroke deaths, the risk increased substantially with heavier drinking.

Professor William Ghali, from the Institute for Population and Public Health at the University of Calgary, told the BBC: "Our extensive review shows that drinking one or one to two drinks would be favourable.

"There is this potentially slippery slope, most notably with social problems and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, but the overall mortality including cancer and accidents shows you would be better with alcohol."
Moderation

Cathy Ross, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This analysis of previous studies supports what we already know about moderate drinking reducing our risk of cardiovascular disease.

"However, drinking more than sensible amounts of alcohol does not offer any protection and can cause high blood pressure, stroke, some cancers and damage to our heart.

"If you don't drink, this is not a reason to start. Similar results can be achieved by being physically active and eating a balanced and healthy diet."

The researchers believe any beneficial effects are down to the alcohol itself, rather than anything else in a drink.

Their second study suggests that drinking up to 15g a day for women or 30g for men increased levels of good cholesterol, adiponectin and apolipoprotein, which have been linked to a healthy heart.

They said this pattern was true for all types of beverage.

The research group believes that governments may have to change their messages on public health to argue for drinking alcohol in moderation.

Prof Ghali said: "There's no doubt a public health campaign would be controversial. We need to ponder the message of how a doctor talks to a patient and how the government talks to the people."

Professor Lindsey Davies, president of the Faculty of Public Health, added: "It just strengthens the argument that a little bit does you good, but a lot does you harm, but that always makes a public health message hard."

bbc.co.uk

Yes but remember, for a man its just 500ml/day and for woman 300ml/day.
The problem isnt drink but become drunk hehe

Good article indeed. But the word moderation has different levels for individuals when it comes to drinking.

I'll drink to that!

Seriously though, I agree with Equinoxx and what is moderate for one might not be for another.

In the UK we have a drink culture that gets plenty of press coverage with cheap booze being blamed for most of societies problems.
It is not a new pastime for youths trying out cheap drinks. I remember going to the off licence to buy cheap cider or cheap anything, and that was around xx years ago.

The point about not starting to drink because of the survey results is also a good point.
Last weekend was my sisters wedding and it is at these occasions when youngsters like to sample a little alcohol.

My feelings are mixed on this one because how do you know by letting your child have a cheeky vimto it won't lead to problems down the line. But if you adamantly refused point blank would that stop them?

I apologise for expanding on the essence of the original post about alcohol in moderation. It is such a minefield and what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

The same theory is applicable to a lot of other stuffs. If you eat too much, it's bad, it you don't eat that much, it's bad. There is even that song "too much love will you" o_o

What I'm saying is that it's not just alcohol that is bad when taken in excess, there are a lot of things too and like alcohol, the reason why we take more than enough is because they are addictive and they are fun and they make us feel good. I have to admit that I drink every once in a while, party every now and then, and yes I am scared of heart disease. But it's not just alcohol that is worrying me about it, there is also proper diet, enough sleep, work and stress and a lot of things...

Who would have thought that growing old can be that much of stuff to think about.

Yes, it does! You need to specify what that number is or you will have those who feel a 6-pack a day will keep the doctor away LOL!

What about the people who have developed an unhealthy dependency on alcohol like alcoholics? I understand the article is saying that it could be beneficial to have a moderated consumption of alcohol, but again, we are in a society that craves over-exposure and over-consumption. (Well, speaking of things Ive seen in America.) I think with moderate consumption should also come the discipline and the responsibility to know when it stop drinking, or when to not drink at all. There is the whole big "drug war", but alcoholics are still killing people by the thousands by drunk driving...

It’s been well documented that moderate amounts of alcohol can raise your good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and thin your blood. This is thought to be one of the primary cardiovascular benefits from wine (red and white), as well as hard liquor and beer.

Alcohol does have the physiological benefits of basically "thinning the blood leading to blood pumping easier through the heart" The article in question is not about "dependency" though, it is stating the health benefits of moderate amounts of alcohol...Problem is...what is moderate to some is not too others. What it doesn't go through are the negative effects of alcohol either.

cheers

Yeah, you make a good point here. I usually only have a few beers a week, and maybe one bottle of wine a month or so. I was just curious, since I come an alcohol-dependent type family where it was abused beyond moderation.

That is where the young bloods learn how to drink actually. By seeing people around them enjoying a few beers per day or week, it somehow gets to them that it's a fun thing I guess. Since most drinkers are almost always having fun - laughing out loud everyday.

There was a time when beer was just like coke. You only drink it every once in a while (but not anytime you like like in the office or something). I guess it just got so good drinking it nowadays to make people drink it in excess.

This will certainly motivate me more as I for one am a casual drinker of alcohol myself. But I actually have known, in a way, that it does something good for my professor have mentioned something about it. I just appreciate the fact that once and for all it was reinforced and proven!

CHEERS!

A moderate drinking promotes prper digestion. Even the grand parents assure that. But excessive drinking is harmful even in drinking moderately the effects may not be the same to all. The bbody chemistry may not be uniformal with all

Here is to a nice bottle of red wine and good quality beer every once in a while.