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Overview

It’s safe to say that alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. The difference lies mostly in the dose. Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system, and probably protects against type II diabetes and gallstones. In some countries, alcohol is implicated in about half of fatal traffic accidents. Heavy drinking can damage the liver and heart, harm an unborn child, increase the chances of developing breast and some other cancers, contribute to depression and violence, and interfere with relationships.
Alcohol’s two-faced nature shouldn’t come as a surprise. The active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, a simple molecule called ethanol, affects the body in many different ways. It directly influences the stomach, brain, heart, gallbladder, and liver. It affects levels of lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and insulin in the blood, as well as inflammation and coagulation. It also alters mood, concentration, and coordination.

What is Moderate Drinking?

The definition of moderate drinking is something of a balancing act. Moderate drinking sits at the point at which the health benefits of alcohol clearly outweigh the risks.The latest consensus places this point at no more than 1-2 drinks a day for men, and no more than 1 drink a day for women.

The opposite of moderate drinking is either heavy drinking or binge drinking. Heavy drinking is binge drinking on five or more days within one month. The classifies binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to .08 g/dL. For women, this typically happens after about four drinks in two hours. For men, this generally occurs after five drinks.

The Benefits Of Moderate Alcohol Consumption

While getting drunk every weekend isn’t always the best thing to do for our physical and mental health, consuming alcohol like wine in moderate amounts may actually lead to some significant health benefits:

1) Lower Risks ff cardiovascular disease
Moderate levels of alcohol consumption have been seen to raise HDL levels in individual. Higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as ‘good’ cholesterol, was proved to lead to greater protection against heart disease. Moreover, it is also with benefits of increased sensitivity to insulin and positively influencing the way blood clots. It may prevent the creation of small blood clots, which may obstruct arteries in the heart, neck, and brain.

2) Extend Your Life Span
According to a study that moderate alcohol consumption can also extend your life. It is found that consuming less than two drinks for women and less than three drinks for men in a day reduces one’s death risk by 18 percent. The right way to consume alcohol seems to be in small amounts, especially during meals.

3) Improvements In Your Libido
Red wine prevents heart disease and moderate alcohol consumption may actually prevent erectile dysfunction and improve one’s libido. it was found that among alcohol drinkers, erectile dysfunction was seen to drop by a range of 25 to 30 percent.

4. Fights Against The Common Cold
It was found that moderate alcohol consumers actually saw a lower risk of developing common colds. It was found that a 60 percent drop in the risk of contracting colds can be linked to consuming eight to 14 glasses of wine weekly, especially red wine.

5. Reduced Risk of Developing Dementia
Moderate alcohol consumption also leads to a 23 percent dip in the risk of developing cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia among individuals . In moderate amounts, alcohol may strengthen brain cells by stressing them out. By inputting small amounts of stress consistently, alcohol helps to prepare the cells for future other major stress factors that could potentially lead to dementia and reinforces them.

6. Reduced Risk of Developing Gallstones
It is observed that a reduced risk of developing gallstones by one-third if consume two cups of alcohols in a single day. It is still important that while these findings exhibit the health benefits of alcohol intake, know that consuming too much alcohol can still lead to multiple health problems.

7. Lesser Chance of Developing Type II Diabetes
Compared to individuals who do not drink alcohol at all, one can also reduce their risk of contracting type II diabetes by consuming one to two alcoholic drinks in a single day.