How a Little Alcohol Is Good For You

It’s nice to know why you can take a glass or two of wine (or whatever your tipple may be) for your health. It seems it’s because a limited amount of alcohol (up to 2 glasses daily) prevents, or slows, the development of atherosclerosis in your coronary arteries. The Rotterdam Study, which collects health data over the years on Dutch citizens lining near Rotterdam, has found that there’s a reduction in calcification of the coronary arteries in people who had no symptoms of coronary heart disease. The average age at analysis was 71.

Sixteen percent of the 1800 subjects drank no alcohol; 45% took 1 drink or less a day; 17% had 1 to 2 drinks a day; and 21% took more than 2 drinks a day. Compared to the non-drinkers, the likelihood of extensive coronary calcification was 60% for those taking 1 drink or less a day, and 51% in those taking 1 to 2 drinks a day. There was no difference for those taking more than 2 drinks a day.

So, more good news for those who drink in moderation, and another piece of the puzzle concerning the mechanism of the development of at least one type of coronary artery disease.

Comments

[Sreekanth]

Its Good to know little alcohol is good, but you missed to specify the age and the amount in ml or litres a glass can one take. Can we assume 1 year kid takes a glass of wine or alcohol. Also please be specific on the percentage of alcohol that a glass of alcohol contains. Alcohol Kills and depends from person to person i bet the results above will not be leniar to all in the group also alcohol rocks at limited quantities give you relaxation and frees up your mind, God why have you created this? so tempting water............

[Robert Griffith]

Sreekanth:
The many articles about alcohol intake and the health benenfits of a "small to moderate" amount have resulted in general acceptance that the unit to use is a "drink". A "drink' may be a half-pint (a glass) of beer, a wine-glass full of wine, or a shot of liquor. They all more or less average out to the same amount of alcohol.
The generally-accepted upper limits for healthy drinking are 1-2 drinks a day for women and 2-4 drinks a day for men. Large men may benefit from 4 drinks a day, small men may find this is too much, and the ill effects are not outweighed by the benenfits. It's an individual thing, not well-served by giving recommendations of a given number of ml alcohol a day. However, here's a rough guide: what counts as one drink are:
12 ounces of regular beer or wine cooler
8 ounces of malt liquor
5 ounces of wine
1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor

Yours, Bob G.