We've all heard the reports on the news about alcohol use being beneficial to your health. "Drink a glass of wine a day for longer life!" Are the reports true? In what ways does alcohol improve health? Is there a point in which alcohol use goes from being healthy to unhealthy?

Healthy Moderation If you are a male who drinks two drinks a day you are defined as a moderate drinker. A female who drinks one drink a day is considered moderate. Most of the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption come from drinking red wine. These benefits were found most clearly in red wines that were dry, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah, and Pinot Noir. The reported health benefits of moderate red-wine consumption include:

• Improved cardiovascular health
• Reduced bad cholesterol levels
• Increased good cholesterol levels
• Reduced incident of stroke (by reduced blood clotting)
• Lowered risk of gallstones
• Potential reduced risk of diabetes
• Potential inhibited tumor growth
• Potential growth of nerve cells (possibly reducing Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson's Disease)

Unhealthy Excessive Drinking Although there appears to be benefits to moderate consumption of certain red wines, consuming more than a moderate amount of alcohol is risky. Drinking three drinks a day or more is considered excessive and puts you at risk for serious health implications. Negative health implications for excessive alcohol use include:

• Increased levels of triglycerides (fat) in the bloodstream
• Increased damage to nerve cells
• Increased damage to liver and pancreas.
• Risk of malnutrition
• Increased high blood pressure
• Increased risk of many cancers
• Increased risk of stroke
• Increased potential for heart muscle damage
• Increased risk of miscarriage
• Increased potential for cirrhosis of the liver
• Increased fetal alcohol syndrome
• Increased potential for injury due to accidents
• Increased risk of suicide

Do the benefits of alcohol consumption out-weight the risks? Despite the benefits of moderate consumption of red wine, there are several groups of people who should not drink alcohol at all. This includes people with medical conditions (such as liver disease or pancreatic disease). Pregnant women also should not consume alcohol. Alcohol use during pregnancy increases chances of birth defects. Additionally, if there is any history of alcoholism in your family, you should carefully consider whether or not you should consume alcohol as you are likely to have a genetic risk for developing alcoholism yourself. Furthermore, if you are taking any medications you should always consult with your physician before consuming alcohol. Finally, you should not feel pressure to drink for health reasons. If you are not a drinker you should not start drinking. The potential risks of over-consumption outweigh the potential benefits.

See also:

• 11 Warning Signs of Alcoholism
• Think Locking the Liquor Cabinet is Enough? Think Again.
• Why They Just Can’t Stop