Quote:
Originally Posted by remek  Alcohol is good in moderation. In fact, they now say a glass or two of alcohol a day is healthy for you. |
Some of the recent reports of alcohol having some health benefits, especially for the heart, have left out something called "proxy variables." These are variables that would have been difficult to control for in any medical study. I read an interesting challenge to the idea that any amount of alcohol could be healthy. It pointed out that many of the healthy people who had moderate alcohol habits drank wine exclusively. It further reduced this showing that people who drink wine have healthier living habits in general: more exercise and more fruits and vegetables in their diets. So it was more about a set of living habits that made these wine drinkers healthier.
There are indeed some micronutrients in red wine that are very healthy. But these can be found in fresh fruit and fruit juices too without the alcohol.
Alcohol does put stress on any tissue it comes into contact with, and is especially hard on the liver.
I certainly don't oppose alcohol use. I'm just skeptical of reports that alcohol itself may have a health benefit. In a way I wish I liked it a little more. I tried having a glass of wine last summer and just about gagged. The alcohol just tastes like furniture polish to me.