Drinking on Health & Long Life: Moderate Alcohol

Most people know that abusing alcohol is bad for the body. It can damage the liver, increase risk of breast cancer, and cause accidents. But what are the effects of moderate drinking on health? Does it do anything of benefit?

The short answer is “yes.” Drinking alcohol (beer, wine, and distilled spirits) improves health and helps us live longer. Learn more at Alcohol and Health: Medical Findings. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the developed world. For example it kills about one million people in the U.S. each year.1 A federal agency (NIAAA) reports that moderate drinking is very good for heart health. It leads to a 40% to 60% drop in heart disease.2

The public generally knows that red wine is good for the heart and increases length of life. But the Red Wine Myth is that only red wine provides these important benefits. In fact, alcoholic beverages tend to be generally equal in their health benefits. It’s the alcohol in alcoholic beverages that largely improves health and lengthens life. And standard drinks of alcohol all contain six-tenths of an ounce of pure alcohol.

Diseases Overview

          1. Heart Health
          2. Stroke
          3. Diabetes
          4. Alzheimer’s & Dementia
          5. Arthritis
          6. Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
          7. Osteoporosis
          8. Gallbladder Disease
          9. Cancers
          10. Other Diseases & Conditions

Impacts of Moderate Drinking on Health

I. Heart Health

drinking on the bodyHeart disease is a major cause of death. And drinking in moderation greatly reduces heart diseases. As a result, moderate drinkers are less likely to suffer heart attacks or failure. That’s compared to either abstainers or heavy drinkers.

Also, moderate drinking increases the survivability of heart attacks. Very important is the fact that non-drinkers who begin drinking greatly reduce their risk of heart and vessel disease. This shows that moderate drinking causes the reduced risk.

How Alcohol Promotes Good Cardiovascular Health

The ways moderate drinking causes better heart and vascular health is known, at least in part. Such drinking promotes good heart health in a number of ways. They include these.

Alcohol improves blood lipid profile.3

    • Increases HDL or “good” cholesterol.4
    • Decreases LDL or “bad” cholesterol.5
    • Improves the particle size of cholesterol.6

Alcohol decreases thrombosis (blood clotting).

    • Reduces platelet clumping.7
    • Reduces the blood clotter fibrinogen.8
    • Increases the process by which clots dissolve.9

Alcohol acts in other ways.

    • Reduces heart artery spasm from stress.10
    • Increases heart blood flow.11
    • Lowers blood pressure.12
    • Reduces blood insulin level.13
    • Increases estrogen levels.14
Health Alternatives to Drinking

What alternatives are there to drinking for reducing the risk of heart disease? What about eating a better diet, exercising, or losing weight? Wouldn’t that be just as effective?

No, it wouldn’t. The only more effective change is to stop smoking.

Alcohol is more effective than other lifestyle changes, even when combined. A typical person would need to

    • Follow a strict low-fat and no salt diet.
    • Regularly exercise very strenuously.
    • Lose a substantial weight.
    • Take prescription meds.15

Yet drinking in moderation would have a greater impact on reducing heart disease risk than doing all of these things. So the effect of drinking on the body is beneficial.

II. Stroke

drinking on the bodyA stroke or “brain attack” kills brain cells. Exactly where and how many brain cells die determines the resulting disability.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability among adults in the US. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. Every year almost 800,000 people have a stroke. This means that a stroke happens every 40 seconds. A stroke kills someone every four minutes.

The good news is that moderate drinkers are much less likely than others to have a stroke. Things that are good for heart health also tend to be good for the brain. Discover more at Risk of Stroke Reduced by Moderate Alcohol Consumption.

III. Diabetes

drinking on the bodyType 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) is a very serious disease. It’s especially harmful to the kidneys, nerves, and eyes. It can lead to problems such as blindness, impotence, loss of limbs, and death. The disease also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Tens of millions of people around the world suffer from diabetes. And many more are at risk of the disease.

Research clearly shows that moderate drinking reduces the risk of diabetes. Learn more at Drinking Alcohol and Type 2 Diabetes.

IV. Alzheimer’s & other Dementia

drinking on the bodyDementia, including that caused by Alzheimer’s, is an important matter. Dementia effects millions of people, their loved ones, and tax payers.

Reducing the risk of dementia would help contain health care costs. It would reduce the emotional burden of care giving. And it would promote enhanced quality of later life.

Moderate drinkers are at lower risk of dementia. But either not drinking or drinking abuse increases the risk. To learn more, visit Drinking and Dementia, Alzheimer’s, & Memory Loss.

V. Arthritis

moderate alcohol drinkingRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an incurable inflammatory disease. It’s an autoimmune disorder. The body’s immune system attacks the victim’s own body instead of an infection. The reasons for this are not known.

But we do know that arthritis risk is reduced by moderate drinking. The alcohol can be in beer, wine or spirits (liquor). Drinking any or all of these reduces RA risk.

Discover more at RA Risk: Drinking Alcohol Beneficial.

VI. Enlarged Prostate  (BPH)

drinking on the bodyThe prostate gland is part of a man’s reproductive system. It slowly grows after age 25 but rarely causes problems before age 40. However, by their 60, about half of men have symptoms of enlarged prostate. It’s also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These include a variety of urination problems. But severe BPH can cause serious problems over time.

The good news is that men who drink in moderation are much less likely to develop BPH. See more at Drinking Alcohol Reduces Risk of Enlarged Prostate.

VII. Osteoporosis

drinking on the bodyOsteoporosis is a weakening of bone. It can cause severe problem, especially among older women. But also among many men. It often causes fractures that often lead to severe disability. Osteoporosis most often causes fractures in the hip, wrist or spine. Hip fractures are especially dangerous. About half the time, they start a downward health spiral leading to death.

Moderate drinking greatly reduces the risk of osteoporosis. In turn, this reduces risk of  the many problems it causes. Visit Risk of Osteoporosis and Drinking Alcohol: Drinking Reduces Risk to learn more.

VIII. Gallstone & Gallbladder Disease

drinking on the bodyDrinking greatly decreases the risk of forming gallstones or bladder disease. Compared to abstainers, drinkers have a 40% lower risk. Also medical research finds that the greater the consumption, the lower the risk. This includes drinking much more than suggested by US federal drinking guidelines

Learn more about alcohol, gallstones, and gallbladder disease. Simply visit Drinking Alcohol and Gallstone & Gallbladder Disease Risk.

IX. Cancers

drinking on the bodyDrinking alcohol, especially along with smoking, increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx and larynx.16 These cancers are all very rare. In total, these cancers cause only 1% of all cancer deaths in the U.S.17

Yet moderate drinking has no impact on the risk of developing virtually any other cancers. On the other hand, it reduces the risk of these cancers.

    • Kidney Cancer. (Fifth most common cancer in US.)
    • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
    • Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
    • Thyroid Cancer

X. Other Diseases and Conditions

Moderate drinkers are generally less likely to suffer other diseases and conditions such as these.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm.18

Asthma19

drinking on the bodyCommon cold.20

      Depression21     

Essential tremors.22

Helicobacter pylori infection(the major cause of hepatitis B).23

Hepatitis A 24          

Hypertension or high blood pressure.25

Intermittent claudication.26

drinking on the bodyKidney stones.27

Lung disease.28

Metabolic syndrome.29

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.30

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).31

Parkinson’s disease.32

Result of peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease.33

Poor physical condition in the elderly.34

Stress35

Type B gastritis.36

Summary: Impacts of Moderate Drinking

In short, the effects of moderate drinking on the body are positive. On average, moderate drinkers have better health and live longer. That’s compared to either abstainers or alcohol abusers.

Resources

These resources deal with the effects of moderate drinking on the body and related topics.

Heart Health
Stroke
Diabetes
    • Levine, M. Diabetes.
    • Metcalf, T. and Metcalf, G. Diabetes. (Juv)
    • Stahura, B. Diabetes.
    • Yuwiler, J. Diabetes.
Alzheimer’s & other Dementias
Arthritis
Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
Osteoporosis
    • A.D.A.M., Inc. Osteoporosis. (Video)
    • FDA. Osteoporosis.
    • Hoffmann, G. Osteoporosis. (Juv)
    • Living with Osteoporosis. (Video)
Gallbladder
Cancer

Footnotes

    1. Am Heart Assn website.
    2. Highlights of the NIAAA position. Alco: Clin Exper Res.
    3. Rimm, E., et al. Moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease. Brit Med. J., 319, 1523-1528.
    4. Doll, R. One for the heart. Brit Med J, 315, 1664-1668.
    5. Paassilta, M., et al. Social alcohol consumption and low Lp (2) lipoprotein concentration. Brit Med J, 316, 594-595.
    6. Mukamal, K.. et al. Alcohol consumption and lippoprotein subclasses in older adults. J Clin Endocrin Metab. PMID: 17440017.
    7. Zhang, Q., et al. Effects of acute, moderate alcohol consumption on human platelet aggregation. Alco: Clin Exper Res., 24, 528-534.
    8. Wang, Z., and Barker, T. Alcohol at moderate levels decreases fibrinogen expression. Alc Clin Exper Res., 23, 1927-1932
    9. Sumi, H., et al. Urokinase-like plasminogen activator increased in plasma after alcohol drinking. Alc Alc., 23, 33-43.
    10. For discussion, see Ellison, R. Does Moderate Alcohol Consumption Prolong Life? NY: Am Coun Sci Health.
    11. Israel, Y., et al. Acetate-mediated effects of ethanol. Alc Clin. Exp. Res., 18(1), 144-148.
    12. MacMahon, A. Alcohol consumption and hypertension. Hyper., 9(2), 111-121. Dairdron, D. M. Cardiovascular effects of alcohol. W J Med., 151(4), 430-439.
    13. Facchini, F, et al. Light-to-moderate alcohol intake and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Diab Care, 17(2). Rimm, E., et al. Prospective study of cigarette smoking, alcohol use and the risk of diabetes in men. Brit Med J., 310, 555-559. Bell, D. Alcohol and the NIDDM patient. Diab Care, 19(5), 509-513.
    14. Vliegenthart, R., et al. Alcohol consumption and coronary calcification. Arch Int Med., 164, 2355-2360.
    15. Ellison, R. Here’s to your health. Wine Spec.
    16. Head and Neck Cancers.
    17. Cancer Facts & Figures.
    18. Stackenberg, O., et al. Alcohol consumption, specific alcoholic beverages, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Circ, 130, 646-652.
    19. Lieberoth, S. Euro Respir Soc (ERS) 2011 Annual Cong: Ab 319. Presented Sept 25, 2011; McCall, B. Moderate Alcohol Consumption Protective Against Asthma, Medscape Med News, Nov. 5, 2011.
    20. Cohen, S., et al. Smoking, alcohol consumption and susceptibility to the common cold. Am J Pub Hlth.,83(9), 1277-1283.
    21. Baum-Baicker, C. The psychological benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Drug Alco Depen., 15.
    22. Boecker, H., et al. The effect of ethanol on alcoholic-responsive essential tremor. Ann Neurol., 39, 650-658.
    23. Gao, L., et al. Alcohol Consumption, Serum GammaGlutamyltransferase, and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in a Population-Based Study Among 9733 Older Adults. Ann Epi, 20(2), 122-128.
    24. Desenclos, J-C., et al. The protective effect of alcohol on the occurrence of epidemic oyster borne hepatitis A. Epid., 5, 525-532.
    25. Thadhani, R., et al. Prospective study of moderate alcohol consumption and risk of hypertension in young women. Arch Intern Med, 162, 569-574.
    26. Djousse, L., et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of intermittent claudicating. Circ., 102, 3092.
    27. Curhan, G., et al. Prospective study of beverage use and the risk of kidney stones. Am J Epid., 143(3), 240-247.
    28. Siu, S.,et al. Alcohol consumption and lung function. Chest Mtg Ab, 132, 614b-615b.
    29. Alkerw A, et al. Alcohol consumption and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Athero., 204, 624-635.
    30. See Alcohol and Liver Disease.
    31. Ibid.
    32. Hellenbrand, W., et al. Diet and Parkinson’s disease. Neurol., 306, 1,506-1,509.
    33. Camargo, C., et al. Prospective study of moderate alcohol consumption and risk of peripheral arterial disease . Circ., 95(3), 577-580.
    34. Nelson, H., et al. Smoking, alcohol and neuromuscular and physical function of older women. JAMA., 272(23), 1825-1831.
    35. Lipton, R. The effect of moderate alcohol use on the relationship between stress and depression. Am J Pub Hlth., 84(12), 1913-1917. Baum-Baicker, ibid.
    36. Brenner, H., et. al. Relation of smoking and alcohol and coffee consumption to active Helicobacter pylori infection. Brit Med J., 315, 1389-1492.

Note

This site gives no advice. Please see your doctor for medical answers.