Links between red wine and fewer heart attacks aren’t well understood. But antioxidants in red wine may increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also called the “good” cholesterol, and protect against cholesterol buildup. And if adults of “legal drinking age choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drinking less is better for health than drinking more,” the CDC states. Research began to show a connection between drinking and the development of dementia, liver disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, digestive disorders and cancer, another leading killer. If you are living with heart disease, having a small amount of alcohol each day is linked to a lower risk of having another heart attack, stroke, angina (heart pain because of constricted arteries) or an early death, according to a new large study. Binge drinking — four or why is alcohol good for you more drinks for women and five or more for men in about 2 hours — can cause irregular heart rhythms called arrhythmias.
Is Dark Chocolate Good for You? A Dietitian Answers.
But this finding would not apply to everyone, as drinking alcohol raises the risk for certain diseases such as cirrhosis, tuberculosis and cancer and for alcohol-related accidents and injuries, Gakidou said. Another study from January 2024 suggested that for people of European ancestry, dark chocolate may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and venous thromboembolism, a condition that occurs when blood clots form in veins. But how you drink — fast or slow, with or without food — and how old you are can also determine how alcohol might affect your heart rate. Simply put, it’s better to sip than guzzle and it’s always better to enjoy that drink with some food.
Could stress relief and a lower risk of diabetes explain the link between moderate drinking and cardiovascular health?
That’s why the Surgeon General issued an advisory in January 2025 recommending that alcoholic beverages carry new labels warning of the alcohol-cancer link and highlighting that no safe low level of alcohol consumption has been established. Changing the labels as suggested by the Surgeon General will require congressional action that may never happen. In the same meta-analysis, the authors observed a U-shaped association between the amount of alcohol consumed and the acute and chronic risk of AMI, with the highest protection with approximately 2 drinks in one day and the highest risk at 9 drinks in a day 14.
USC Norris Cancer Hospital
After all, alcohol is deeply woven into our social celebrations, cultural traditions and even daily routines. But perhaps, for a moment, you may pause to reflect on your habits—how the last drink made you feel and how it might impact your health in the future. If you are considering cutting back, here are some simple, actionable steps you can take to limit or completely avoid alcohol. You can expect to hear about more research, debate, and controversy in the near future regarding the potential risks and benefits of drinking, and how much — if any — is ideal. A woman is considered a heavy drinker if she has eight or more drinks per week, or a binge drinker if she has more than four drinks in one sitting. Although more men than women die from alcohol-related causes (including accidents and liver disease), women may be more susceptible than men to several health problems caused by alcohol, says Dr. Manson.
- Some people who drink alcohol have trouble stopping, called addiction.
- For millions of people, it’s a regular part of the dining experience, social and sports events, celebrations, and milestones.
- The researchers measured the amount of tartaric acid — a compound almost exclusive to grapes and wine — in the participants’ urine to determine how much red wine they drank.
- He also points out that the individual effects on metabolic health (triglycerides, weight, blood pressure) may still be considerable.
- No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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- A four-ounce glass of red wine comes in at about 120 calories, Trafficanda-Raynor says — and, as she quips, “Who’s stopping at four ounces?
- Although more men than women die from alcohol-related causes (including accidents and liver disease), women may be more susceptible than men to several health problems caused by alcohol, says Dr. Manson.
- However, if you know you’re heading to a place where options might be limited, Diaz recommends bringing your own nonalcoholic drink to share.
- In an effort to explain why moderate drinkers had a lower risk of heart disease, even when compared to non-drinkers, some researchers suggested that compounds found in red wine could have an antioxidant effect and protect against disease.
- Rather than asking people to self-report their drinking habits, the study used biology to determine consumption levels.
On the other hand, heavy and binge alcohol consumption should be categorically discouraged without any exception or pretext. Along this line, national and international guidelines should be better implemented and updated. The relationship between alcohol consumption and CVD appears in general terms biphasic, being protective at low and moderate amounts and detrimental at high intakes, even when occasionally consumed.
- But how you drink — fast or slow, with or without food — and how old you are can also determine how alcohol might affect your heart rate.
- The liver, in particular, bears much of the brunt, as it’s responsible for breaking down alcohol and removing toxins from the body.
- Simply eating grapes or drinking grape juice might be a way to get resveratrol without drinking alcohol.
- Having a drink while getting together with family or friends is often part of many special occasions.
More evidence moderate drinking is good for your heart. Also: a reason.
Results from an additional 12 studies was added to the analysis to make a combined sample of over 48,000 people. If you drink alcohol at all, experts say you should do so in moderation. There are a number of ways alcohol affects our health — and not in a good drug addiction way. And when it comes to alcohol and heart health, there are real concerns, including increased heart rate. However, in light of the results of the study, Dr. Aragam suggests that other factors may be involved. The new research shows that light-to-moderate drinkers tend to live healthier overall lifestyles than those that abstain from drinking or from heavy drinkers.