8 Health Benefits of Alcohol

Bianca Teixeira March 11, 2015

You’ve heard ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’? Well, it’s time to substitute that apple for a glass of wine, beer or liquor. Research is slowly showing that a multitude of ailments can be helped by booze. The major emphasis here is on moderation. In fact, most of the afflictions moderate alcohol intake seems to help can be exacerbated or worsened with too much alcohol. So drink, but drink wisely.

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Alcohol lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease

It’s been found that moderate amounts of alcohol raise levels of high-density lipoprotein, HDL, or the ‘good’ cholesterol, and higher HDL levels are associated with better protection against heart disease. And can also mean that…

Alcohol adds years to your life

Besides being good for your heart, alcohol also thins the blood, lowering the risk of dangerous blood clots, which can lead to problems in the heart, lungs, kidneys or limbs. Try to keep this tidbit in mind next time you hurt yourself and want to drink to numb the pain, you’ll bleed more.

Servings

A glass a day means one glass a day, not seven on Sunday to cover the week. And one glass of alcohol isn’t just whatever amount you can handle or can fit into the biggest cup you own. Here are the measurements:

Beer: 12 ounces

Wine: 5 ounces

Distilled spirits: 1.5 ounces

Alcohol fights against the common cold

Researchers found that by drinking wine, particularly red wine, you could see a 60 per cent reduction in the risk of developing a cold. We suspect that this might have something to do with the antioxidant properties of wine. Those delicious antioxidants.

Alcohol improves libido

Sure, too much alcohol can actually hamper a romantic night, but newer research has found that moderate drinking might actually protect against erectile dysfunction. Keep it in moderation thought or else that *other thing* might be what happens instead.

Alcohol lowers the chance of diabetes

Alcohol intake causes an increase in the hormone adiponectin in the blood. And high adiponectin levels correlate with a lower risk of diabetes. But stay away from really sugary beverages or else it’s all moot.

Alcohol reduces the risk of gallstones

Drinking two units of alcohol per day can reduce the risk of gallstones by one-third, according to researchers. Gallstones can lead to persistent pain, jaundice and a high fever. Doesn’t a quick drink sound better than all of that?

Alcohol can decrease the chances of developing Alzheimer’s

All that HDL that is produced from moderately low alcohol levels? It helps facilitate blood circulation and decreases inflammation. Inflammation is strongly implicated in the severity and progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Never be accused of drinking to forget ever again!