Moderate Drinkers are Healthier

Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Filed under Health, Info

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol may be good for your health.

A new study from the University of Miami finds people who drink moderately are more likely to report above-average health than light drinkers, heavy drinkers and those who have never drank. But it is not clear whether moderate drinking leads to better health or whether moderate drinkers just have healthier lifestyles.

Researchers looked at data from more than 31,000 adults from a U.S. Census Bureau survey. Participants answered questions about how much they drank, their health behaviors, and chronic health conditions. Moderate drinking was defined as four to 14 drinks a week for men and four to seven drinks a week for women.

Results show men who drank moderately were 1.27-times more likely to report above-average health compared to lifetime abstainers and former light drinkers. And women who were moderate drinkers were more than twice as likely to report above-average health as those who abstained.

Researchers say the results may have something to do with the healthy lifestyles of moderate drinkers because people who work out and eat healthy are probably the same people who drink moderately instead of heavily.

The study notes the main health benefit of moderate drinking is that it can ward off cardiovascular disease, especially hardening of the arteries and stroke caused by blood clots.

But while moderate drinking may have its benefits, the authors warn about the dangers of heavy drinking and how bad it is for your health.