Much has been written about alcohol consumption in recent years. Those who regularly imbibe want to believe that a couple of drinks a day can be beneficial to their health. Teetotalers on the other hand prefer to focus on the harmful effects of alcohol. So, which is it?
A recent study conducted in Italy revealed that drinking in moderation can actually increase your life span. They cautiously add that the benefits will only extend if you don’t over-do a good thing:
- Women limit their intake to two alcoholic drinks per day.
- Men consume no more than four alcoholic beverages per day.
The reason for such a large difference is that women metabolize alcohol differently than men. Drinking the same amount of alcohol, women experience higher blood alcohol levels than men, thereby putting themselves at increased risk for diseases of the liver and certain types of cancer.
So if you enjoy your cocktails before dinner, it seems that you don’t have to give them up to stay healthy but it might be wise to heed the warning of the researchers and stay within the suggested limits.
Further advice from the experts suggest that drinking alcoholic beverages with meals and choosing wine, especially red wine, will provide added health benefits but any benefits gained will be lost unless it’s part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
By Natasha Morgan of NotJusttheKitchen
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