Moderate alcohol intake considered good for health
Various health benefits come from less alcohol consumption
Cat Bury
For centuries, people have debated the merits of drinking alcohol. One of the more current discussions began in the late 1980’s, when French scientist Serge Renauld set out to explain why, despite eating a diet full of cheese, butters, and other saturated fats, the people of France reported few instances of heart disease. Surprisingly, in a 1992 interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Renauld attributed these benefits to alcohol. He claimed that his research showed that red wine, another staple of French cuisine, protected the French against heart disease. Alcohol sales in the US soared and college students everywhere felt a little less guilty.
In the almost twenty years since Renauld’s “60 Minutes” interview, the idea that moderate alcohol intake is good for a person’s health has begun to be incorporated into mainstream knowledge. But what exactly is moderate? And just what types of benefits does a person gain from drinking alcohol?
In many studies, moderate levels of alcohol intake have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease. According to Barbara Troy, Assistant Professor of Dietetics in the College of Health Sciences, “the health edge that’s most provocative right now is in relationship to cardiovascular disease.” She said, “alcohol has a favorable effect on lipid levels because it tends to elevate HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol.” This puts a person at a lower risk of dying from heart disease, the leading cause of death in America. The benefits don’t stop there; other studies have shown that alcohol has a positive effect in reducing the risk of diseases ranging from gallstones to type II diabetes.
Many of the benefits of red wine have been attributed to the phytochemicals, or plant chemicals, found in it. Some of these phytochemicals are thought to have antioxidant and even anti-cancer effects. A growing number of studies also show that regardless if a person drinks wine, beer, or spirits, the alcohol in itself contributes to improving health.
But before you raise a glass to your health, it’s important to note that the benefits derived from alcohol come only from moderate intake. Most college students are well aware of the short-term consequences of drinking too much: loss of coordination, decreased inhibitions, debilitating hangovers. The long term risks, which include liver disease, weight gain, certain cancers, mental health problems, and even reduced fertility are even more serious.
Yet college campuses are notorious for promoting binge drinking habits, and Marquette University is no exception. AJ Hill, a senior co-op in the College of Engineering, said “students here don’t drink moderately. They drink five to ten drinks on one or two nights a week.” In such an atmosphere, it can be difficult to discern what truly constitutes moderate alcohol intake.
Troy, citing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, objectively defines moderate drinking as one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. One drink consists of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Troy said, “once you cross that line, the risk benefit ratio starts to change.” Any possible benefit derived from moderate intake is almost certainly negated once a person starts to drink in excess.
Other guidelines state that in order for a person to derive health benefits from alcohol, drinks cannot be “stockpiled.” This means the benefits derived from drinking once every day for a week are not similarly seen in a person that abstains all week and drinks seven drinks on Friday night. Even though a person may not exceed their weekly drink allowance, Troy emphasizes that with such behavior, “the benefits simply will not follow.”
Furthermore, there are some groups of people who simply should not drink alcohol. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with liver or pancreatic disease, and those who are on certain antibiotics are all groups of people who should not consume any alcohol.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is no reason for any person to start drinking in order to gain these benefits. The benefits that alcohol confers are modest, and all can be achieved by alterations in diet and lifestyle. For example, the phytochemicals found in red wine are present in grapes, and modest aerobic exercise has also been shown to increase HDL levels.
So this holiday season, raise a glass to your health (or don’t). But if you do, remember the key word when it comes to drinking alcohol for health benefits: moderation.
For centuries, people have debated the merits of drinking alcohol. One of the more current discussions began in the late 1980’s, when French scientist Serge Renauld set out to explain why, despite eating a diet full of cheese, butters, and other saturated fats, the people of France reported few instances of heart disease. Surprisingly, in a 1992 interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Renauld attributed these benefits to alcohol. He claimed that his research showed that red wine, another staple of French cuisine, protected the French against heart disease. Alcohol sales in the US soared and college students everywhere felt a little less guilty.
In the almost twenty years since Renauld’s “60 Minutes” interview, the idea that moderate alcohol intake is good for a person’s health has begun to be incorporated into mainstream knowledge. But what exactly is moderate? And just what types of benefits does a person gain from drinking alcohol?
In many studies, moderate levels of alcohol intake have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease. According to Barbara Troy, Assistant Professor of Dietetics in the College of Health Sciences, “the health edge that’s most provocative right now is in relationship to cardiovascular disease.” She said, “alcohol has a favorable effect on lipid levels because it tends to elevate HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol.” This puts a person at a lower risk of dying from heart disease, the leading cause of death in America. The benefits don’t stop there; other studies have shown that alcohol has a positive effect in reducing the risk of diseases ranging from gallstones to type II diabetes.
Many of the benefits of red wine have been attributed to the phytochemicals, or plant chemicals, found in it. Some of these phytochemicals are thought to have antioxidant and even anti-cancer effects. A growing number of studies also show that regardless if a person drinks wine, beer, or spirits, the alcohol in itself contributes to improving health.
But before you raise a glass to your health, it’s important to note that the benefits derived from alcohol come only from moderate intake. Most college students are well aware of the short-term consequences of drinking too much: loss of coordination, decreased inhibitions, debilitating hangovers. The long term risks, which include liver disease, weight gain, certain cancers, mental health problems, and even reduced fertility are even more serious.
Yet college campuses are notorious for promoting binge drinking habits, and Marquette University is no exception. AJ Hill, a senior co-op in the College of Engineering, said “students here don’t drink moderately. They drink five to ten drinks on one or two nights a week.” In such an atmosphere, it can be difficult to discern what truly constitutes moderate alcohol intake.
Troy, citing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, objectively defines moderate drinking as one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. One drink consists of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Troy said, “once you cross that line, the risk benefit ratio starts to change.” Any possible benefit derived from moderate intake is almost certainly negated once a person starts to drink in excess.
Other guidelines state that in order for a person to derive health benefits from alcohol, drinks cannot be “stockpiled.” This means the benefits derived from drinking once every day for a week are not similarly seen in a person that abstains all week and drinks seven drinks on Friday night. Even though a person may not exceed their weekly drink allowance, Troy emphasizes that with such behavior, “the benefits simply will not follow.”
Furthermore, there are some groups of people who simply should not drink alcohol. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with liver or pancreatic disease, and those who are on certain antibiotics are all groups of people who should not consume any alcohol.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is no reason for any person to start drinking in order to gain these benefits. The benefits that alcohol confers are modest, and all can be achieved by alterations in diet and lifestyle. For example, the phytochemicals found in red wine are present in grapes, and modest aerobic exercise has also been shown to increase HDL levels.
So this holiday season, raise a glass to your health (or don’t). But if you do, remember the key word when it comes to drinking alcohol for health benefits: moderation.
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