Is must be time to review the data.
For years, we’ve been told and taught that moderate drinking is good for us. Of course, the question is- what is moderate? Is it one or two drinks of alcohol a day? Is five drinks once a week moderate?
But, it turns out it’s even more complicated than that.
About 5 years ago, I reported what was then the current thinking. That men drinking 1 or 2 alcohol drinks a day improved their health. Women had the same results for four or five drinks a week. And, that exercise mitigated any negative affects of moderate to slightly higher levels of alcohol consumption.
Now, folks aren’t so sure. Maybe it’s not the moderate alcohol consumption, but the lifestyles of the folks who moderately drink.
Top that off with different ways of examining the data and developing test protocols and the answers get even murkier. The Lancet published a study based upon Mendelian randomization trials using some ½ million folks in China.
(Note that there is data that there could be profound differences in our population from that of China. For example, African and European folks rapidly break down acetaldehyde [the intermediary compound in alcohol digestion] to acetate. The Chinese often have lingering levels of acetaldehyde.)
That difference aside, the data indicate that consuming 280 g of alcohol a week (this is definitely on the high end of moderation, since it is about 20 drinks a week) correlates with almost a 40 % increase in strokes-but only a 5% augmentation in cardiac disease.
Then, there is the correlation between heavier alcohol consumption and smoking. (Which always brings up the chicken and the egg conundrum.)
And, then there is a non-related question…Are those folks who moderately drink better at managing stress? Is that why they drink less? And, have better health results.
So, you probably figured it out by now. I still have no definitive answers.
And, I’m moderately drinking as I consider the issue.
Hubs nor I don’t drink or smoke. We haven’t even ever had a beer.
Martha recently posted..Ice to Roses
That is fantastic, Martha. May you both enjoy long and happy lives!
Just like so many things, too many variables to come to a clear across the board answer. Guess it falls under the “not all things are the same for all people”. To take it even further, why are some individuals in a family predisposed to alcoholism and others are not. It has been proven that genes affect use and dependence in some individuals. Therefore, moderate use maybe a very arbitrary description as it pertains to consumption.
Shepherds Run Farm recently posted..Finally Frigid
You hit the nail on the head there! Genetics have a significant role to play in the alcohol conundrum. And, moderate use is not scientific enough. I think a study needs to be done using blood alcohol levels and health; it’s my hypothesis that 0.2% BAH is the crossing point between health benefits and hazards.
I have just about stopped drinking, but not because of any study. I just stopped, not that I ever drank regularly. I do enjoy breweries and wineries when I travel. The only downside (noting I am more of a beer drinker than a wine drinker) is that I haven’t found a nonalcoholic beer I like.
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I might partake of a light beer (my kids call what I drink pop, not beer) two or three times a week. Mostly because I fear opening a bottle of wine will tempt me to finish it. So, I only open a bottle of wine when I have guests. Not the best way to limit consumption- but a workable one, Alana.
It seems like there is always data to support just about whichever way a person wants to go. Every couple years the data shifts.
I value my liver and brain, and will just have to forego whatever stated benefits come from drinking.
But keep researching
Laurie recently posted..Praying for our Young Men, Day 3. C is for…
Sorry, Laurie- there isn’t data that can support each point of view. Those are opinions. The problem is when something has multivariate causation- so it’s difficult to pinpoint which ONE- if any one- item is the cause. Often, it is the multiplicity of causes that is truly the issue. Then, we must determine what mitigation of one or more causes can make a significant change to the outcome.
I don’t drink or smoke so will take the benefits the “no-side” offers here 🙂 But I have seen how genetics impacts the way we can consume different foods and drinks on a daily basis (white rice seems to have lesser impact on our blood sugar level than white flour.. and our families have certainly eaten white rice for more generations than plain refined flour)…
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Thanks for that addition, Vidya. I, too, devour rice. And, my genetics probably play a big factor in that digestion, too!