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 the 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 the early
1960’s. But….she did live an extra 10-12 years beyond the
original “less than a year” prognosis, which the
doctor’s attributed to the “kick-start” effect of those
massive shots on her heart!
Additionally, since the 60’s and perhaps much earlier, it is
often recommended that women take a glass of beer a day when
pregnant because of the added Vitamin D and other benefits.
This is wholly contrary to the 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
the drink is wine rather than water. We’re talking people of
all ages, from children up. Generally in Europe the water is
unsafe to drink unless boiled or bottled from the store. And
they have a lower heart disease and resultant stroke and
especially heart attack problem than the US and Canada.
So here’s the big question: Will a glass of wine or a shot
of vodka a day keep the doctor away?
A large body of evidence collected over the 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 the deaths among
older adults, it might seem that finding a way to cut the
death rate would be greeted with joy by public health
officials, who are always on the lookout for a means to
prevent premature death.
However, we are not likely to see cheerful "have one for
the heart" posters replacing the current warnings about
the bad effects of alcohol. This is because, despite its
benefits for the heart, most medical authorities consider the
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 the 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 the “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 the studies, the heart protection occurs with
alcohol consumptions of one to five drinks a day. But most
studies show the 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, the 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 the cardioprotective benefits but, even with modest
drinking but in amounts over two daily drinks, the possible
benefits gained for the heart are negated by the 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 the heart of Europe (Orleans, France), am convinced of the
beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption.
Never-the-less, one must remember that even moderate drinking
can cause increases in the death rates from violence, trauma,
fire, water and road injuries.
The "J-shaped" curve – here’s where I have a big
problem….
Studies in many countries find that people who consume alcohol
in moderation have lower death rates (from all causes) than
those at either extreme: abstainers and those who drink to
excess. My problem here is that, so far as I know, “Life is
100% fatal.” Thus, there is absolutely no way in which
“people who consume alcohol in moderation have lower death
rates (from all causes) than those…” Anyway, back to the
“J-Curve”. In other words, heavy drinkers and abstainers
have higher death rates than moderate drinkers. Graphs that
plot deaths from heart attacks against amounts of alcohol
consumed have a so-called "J-shaped pattern" with a
shallow dip in total mortality for modest drinkers. This
indicates that people who drink a lot die early, relatively
speaking, and -- contrary to expectations -- that those who
drink no alcohol also have increased premature death rates.
Recent data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition
Examination Study (NHANES) found the coronary mortality rate
of moderate drinkers (who average a daily one to two glasses
of wine, beer or spirits) was 50 per cent lower than that of
total abstainers and 60 per cent lower than that of heavy
drinkers.
So, then, what is moderate drinking – How much is enough:?
The concept of "moderate drinking” varies from one
country or population to another, as do the amounts of alcohol
in beverages. For example, one average North American drink
contains 12-14 gm alcohol; in Britain it would have 8.5 gm
alcohol per drink, while in German beer halls each glass might
contain 20 gm per drink. In general, the “experts”
consider moderate drinking to be one to two 5-oz. glasses of
table wine, two bottles of regular beer or a couple of 1.5-oz.
shots of spirits a day for men and less for women, but not
every day. Current recommendations for low-risk drinking
suggest no more than one to two standard alcoholic drinks a
day for women, no more than two a day for men.
Drinking standards vary widely in countries around the world
The "drinking norm" is an elusive concept as
drinking patterns vary widely among nations and cultural or
religious groups, with different "right and wrong"
times and places to drink -- for instance, with or without
meals, as part of a daily regime or only on special occasions.
In some societies, having a "couple of drinks before
dinner" is usual, in others it may cause raised eyebrows.
In France and Italy, for example people habitually sip wine
with meals, but drunkenness is unacceptable. In Canada,
"restrained drinking" has been cited as "less
than five drinks on one occasion," and drunken behaviour
is mildly tolerated. In Finland, drinking is not part of
everyday life but is often binge drinking reserved for special
occasions, sometimes with many drinks at one go, perhaps
explaining the country's high incidence of hemorrhagic
(bleeding) stroke.
Then we have "The French Paradox"
I lived for four years in France and have observed this
“Paradox” in person. The idea that wine might offset
coronary heart disease arose from the finding that the heart
attack rates in France are far lower than those in most of
Europe and other industrialized nations, despite French diets
high in fat, low exercise levels and much tobacco smoking.
Epidemiologists suggest that the low heart attack rates among
the French might be due to their high wine consumption, mostly
red wine, usually taken with meals. Although the French food
supply is still relatively healthful," notes one
nutritionist, "the gap is narrowing as their eating
patterns change from a typical Mediterranean diet (low in
saturated fats, rich in minimally processed plant foods) to
one higher in animal fats. A rise in French heart attack rates
may soon follow." It is my opinion that there is a
growing tendency among “health professionals and
dietitians" to infer that “a healthy diet is a
vegetarian-based diet and contains little or no animal
protein,” yet there is no evidence anywhere to prove such a
hypothesis.
How alcohol might protect the heart
There are several plausible biological mechanisms by which
modest alcohol consumption might lower coronary heart disease
risks. In the short term, alcohol can reduce the formation of
blood clots that block arterial blood flow (leading to heart
attacks) by diminishing blood platelet aggregation and
altering the action of fibrinogen (an enzyme necessary for
clotting). The immediate action of alcohol is anti-thrombitic
-- decreasing the blood's clotting power in much the same way
that ASA (Aspirin) protects against heart attacks. In the long
run, modest alcohol intake gradually curtails the build-up of
atherosclerotic plaque on artery walls and helps raise levels
of high-density lipoproteins – HDL or "good"
cholesterol – which removes cholesterol from the bloodstream
and eliminates it via the liver. Alcohol may also help
preserve the vitamin E and other antioxidants in cell
membranes.
Narrow "window of benefit” for alcohol drinkers
The influence of alcohol in reducing heart attacks occurs only
within a narrow range or small "window" of modest
consumption. Cardiac protection from alcohol only occurs with
low-level drinking -- at intakes of two or fewer drinks per
day (and not every day) and only in people over age 35-40.
Women are much more sensitive to alcohol
Although fewer women than men are heavy drinkers, women are
more susceptible to damage from alcohol at lower levels. At a
given dose per body weight, women suffer more harmful effects
than men, except, of course, for the knowns benefits of a
glass of beer a day during pregnancy – but only for
“some” women, not for all women “across the board”.
Pregnant women advised to refrain from drinking
Except as noted previously, and then only on the advice of
your doctor, women who drink alcohol while pregnant,
especially more than one drink a day, can harm the developing
fetus. Pregnant women are advised to abstain from alcohol
(except as previously noted) because of the risk of birth
defects and fetal alcohol syndrome.
Even though some medical professionals recommend moderate
drinking for some few patients, health authorities in general
do not encourage drinking in any amount.
Beware the slippery slope of addiction
Addiciton – the status of having become alcohol-dependent.
Some people who start with one or two glasses a day, gradually
increase this amount until they are consuming many drinks a
day with all the attendant consequences. Some reach a
"point of no return" where they find it impossible
to cut back or do without their (several) daily drinks. There
is a real risk factor involved in consumption of alcohol and
that is “Addiction” – becoming an alcoholic!
Here’s a few simple guidelines to follow:
Less is usually better.
Some people should never drink.
If you do drink never, never, never mix alcohol and
medications of any kind.
Red wine is not necessarily best.
Moderate or low-risk drinking is:
* For men: no more than two drinks a day, but not every day
* For women: one to two drinks a day, but not every day
These are some of the possible adverse effects of drinking
alcohol over a long period of time:
* Diminished coordination, cognitive impairment;
* Injury or death from falls, motor crashes, fire, water
mishaps;
* Drownings, suicide;
* Assault, violence, firearm use;
* Choking deaths (asphyxiation);
* Elevated blood pressure;
* Stroke;
* Cardiac myopathy and heartbeat irregularities (arrhythmias)
with possible heart failure;
* Possible "rebound coagulability" with increased
blood clotting;
* Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation);
* Alcoholic gastritis (stomach irritability, bleeds);
* Liver cirrhosis;
* Dependency (addiction);
* Abusive behaviour, emotional problems;
* Alcohol-related psychosis, breakdown of family, work and
social relationships.
Advice on low-risk drinking
* Drink no more than two standard drinks in any day.
* Abstainers should not begin drinking to protect the heart.
* Do not step up consumption to lower health risks.
* Anyone who drinks more than two drinks in any one day should
reduce consumption.
* To minimize risks of dependence, have at least one
alcohol-free day per week.
* All persons who consume alcohol should avoid drinking to
intoxication.
* The following should drink no alcohol:
-- people with certain psychological and physical illnesses;
-- those taking certain medications such as antihistamines,
psychoactive drugs and sleep-aids
-- people driving vehicles or operating machinery;
-- those responsible for public order or safety;
-- people unable to control their drinking;
-- those legally prohibited from drinking, such as under-age
persons.
And so we come to my conclusions: Yes, moderate drinking can
be very beneficial to a person. However, the side of this coin
to be carefully watched is: what is moderate for one person is
not enough for another person and excessive for yet another.
What is “just right” for the 200-220 lb man is excessive
for the 145 lb man and not quite enough for the 300 lb man. So
be very careful when drinking “moderately”.
Disclaimer:
This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
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