7 Health Effects of Drinking Alcohol

It may sound counterintuitive, but many studies have found that drinking alcohol may actually be good for us. It’s not necessarily every alcohol that provides the same health benefits, as red wine seems to provide the most significant. Additionally it’s important to drink in moderation, and if doing so you may achieve some of these potential health benefits.

1. It may help to cut our risk of heart disease. There is a correlation between the prevention of heart disease and the occasional drink. Drinking a few glasses of red wine each week may significantly reduce an individual’s potential for developing heart disease. So drink to your heart health!

2. It may help to lower our cholesterol. For those patients that have high cholesterol or are at risk for it, moderate alcohol consumption may be of great help. Alcohol may help to lower our “bad cholesterol” (LDL) and raise our “good cholesterol” (HDL). So even if you have a family history of high cholesterol, the occasional drink may serve you well.

3. It gives us a healthy dose of antioxidants. Opting for choices such as red wine help to offer up healthy doses of antioxidants. These are good for our heart, good for our overall health, and help us to look and feel young. Antioxidants are an essential part of our healthy lifestyle, so turning to specific alcoholic beverages may be a great source for obtaining them.

4. It may help to cut fat from the food that we eat. It is believed that alcohol; particularly red wine may help us to cut calories as we drink it. It is believed that this alcohol in particular may help to cut the fat in the foods that we eat. Though this isn’t an invitation to eat fatty foods, it can prove to be quite helpful after a large or fatty meal.

5. It may help to keep the brain sharp. Recent studies have found that drinking a couple of alcoholic beverages a week may help to keep the brain sharp. Combined with this, alcohol may also help to prevent dementia or even Alzheimer’s disease. This is particularly important if you have a family history of any of these brain disorders.

6. It may lower blood pressure. Due in part to the concentration of antioxidants in certain alcoholic beverages, it has been found to lower blood pressure levels. As it keeps the heart healthy, this keeps the blood flowing properly and reduces the likelihood of high blood pressure. This can be especially helpful to those who already have high blood pressure and want to bring it down.

7. It may help to prevent Type II diabetes. Alcohol may reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, and therefore may work to prevent the onset of Type II diabetes. It’s especially important in this instance to drink in moderation and to make smart choices such as red wine for the best effect.

If consumed in moderation and choosing the right options such as red wine, alcohol may actually be good for you. If you want to achieve these health benefits, be smart in your consumption and combine alcohol with other aspects of a healthy lifestyle for the best effects.

Mary Frederick blogs about how to choose among BSN to MSN online degrees.

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