|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
How to drink to protect your heart
|
|
|
Drinking red wine can reduce your risk of heart disease but too much can boost breast cancer risk. Explore the benefits and risks of sipping alcoholic drinks.
|
|
|
By Rosie Schwartz
|
|
|
|
|
When entertaining with family and friends, you're likely to raise many a glass to toast your health with the ones you love. The ongoing barrage of scientific reports on the benefits of consuming alcoholic beverages may have you believing it's a very health-smart activity indeed. But in order to reap the potential perks, you have to be savvy about what to drink and when. While popular thinking points toward the benefits of drinking red wine in particular, the issue is not a straightforward one. Heart disease and breast cancer risks, blood pressure readings and even bone health are all affected by what's in your glass and how often you refill it.
First, the good news. In the battle against heart disease, alcohol -- whether in beer, wine or liquor -- has been shown to boost beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. In addition, red wine also contains antioxidants, which may defend artery health in a number of ways, including preventing cholesterol from being deposited in the artery wall. But if a fruity Chardonnay is more to your liking than a Cabernet Sauvignon, keep in mind that some of the same antioxidant substances found in red wine, called flavonoids, are contained in other foods as well. Among them are apples, green or black tea and onions.
To maximize the beneficial effects of alcohol, take a lesson from those who live in the Mediterranean region. In their diet, which often includes a daily glass of wine and has repeatedly received stellar ratings from the scientific community, consuming alcohol is just one component of a healthy lifestyle that features nutritious food as regular fare. Research shows that the impact of consuming moderate amounts of alcohol on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease are seen in those with the highest intake of the B vitamin folic acid, also known as folate. This vitamin is found in dark green vegetables, beans and orange juice. In other words, eat as they do in the Mediterranean if you want the heart-health perks of drinking alcohol.
The amount you drink also impacts the level of protection alcohol offers against artery disease. For those with high blood pressure or elevated triglycerides (a fat in the blood thought to boost heart disease risks), alcohol doesn't offer the same advantages, especially when more than moderate amounts are consumed. Too much alcohol is also linked to bone thinning and an increased risk of osteoporosis.
Page 1 of 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 more articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
