Copyright in this Compilation 2004 by http://www.organicgreens.us and Loring Windblad. This article may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is copied complete with all links and text intact and unchanged except for minor improvements such as misspellings and typos. For me this is going back 40 or so years, to my Aunt and Uncle. Aunty had a bad ticker and, on her doctor’s advice, took a shot of scotch every evening. Uncle Bud didn’t have any problem with “a shot” every night. Where Uncle Bud drew
line was her insistence on having 2 or even 3 “shots” every night. And Aunty’s “shots” were more like “ponys” than shots….an ounce and a half to two ounces rather than just one ounce! This is back in early 1960’s. But….she did live an extra 10-12 years beyond original “less than a year” prognosis, which doctor’s attributed to “kick-start” effect of those massive shots on her heart!
Additionally, since 60’s and perhaps much earlier, it is often recommended that women take a glass of beer a day when pregnant because of added Vitamin D and other benefits. This is wholly contrary to concept that pregnant women should consume absolutely ZERO alcohol during pregnancy.
Let’s take a quick trip to Europe where, in Germany, they drink beer rather than water; in France and Italy and Spain drink is wine rather than water. We’re talking people of all ages, from children up. Generally in Europe water is unsafe to drink unless boiled or bottled from store. And they have a lower heart disease and resultant stroke and especially heart attack problem than US and Canada.
So here’s big question: Will a glass of wine or a shot of vodka a day keep doctor away?
A large body of evidence collected over past few years shows that modest alcohol consumption can reduce deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) in middle and old age. Since heart disease accounts for about half of deaths among older adults, it might seem that finding a way to cut death rate would be greeted with joy by public health officials, who are always on lookout for a means to prevent premature death.
However, we are not likely to see cheerful "have one for heart" posters replacing current warnings about bad effects of alcohol. This is because, despite its benefits for heart, most medical authorities consider ill effects of alcohol too dire to recommend it as "heart medicine." The risks of injuries, assault and various health problems related to drinking are too great to suggest that non-drinkers start consuming alcohol to improve heart-health. These risks are present because most people can’t, or won’t, have “just one” – take my Aunty’s example for a case in point. Aunty, after two ponys (3 to 4 “1-ounce shots”) was about half looped. And if she had a third there wasn’t any “about” about it – she was very definitely loaded.
So what is this body of evidence showing about possible benefits of moderate alcohol intake as “cardioprotective” benefits? Studies from around world show a consistent link between moderate alcohol consumption and decreased deaths from coronary heart disease, and in both sexes over age 35-40, but especially among middle aged men. Modest alcohol consumption seems to reduce risks of death from coronary disease by 40-50 per cent. This effect is termed “cardioprotective” effect of moderate alcohol consumption. The benefits of modest alcohol intake hold true even for those who have had heart attacks or are at known risk for CHD.
Depending on studies, heart protection occurs with alcohol consumptions of one to five drinks a day. But most studies show heart-saving effects of alcohol peak at levels of two or fewer drinks a day, and that benefits plateau at three drinks per day. In fact, research suggests that as little as one drink every other day may confer heart-protecting effects in both sexes over age 35.
The downside here is that excessive consumption not only improves cardioprotective benefits but, even with modest drinking but in amounts over two daily drinks, possible benefits gained for heart are negated by bad health effects of alcohol – more falls, bruises, cuts, road injuries, violence, rising blood pressure, hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke, liver cirrhosis and some types of cancer.
Now I, personally, from a lifetime (I’m 69 and counting) of observation on friends and relatives, including 4 years living in heart of Europe (Orleans, France), am convinced of beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption. Never-the-less, one must remember that even moderate drinking can cause increases in death rates from violence, trauma, fire, water and road injuries.
