subject: The Heart-healthy Absolute Alcohol? [print this page] In the course of Mankind's on-again, off-again relationship with alcohol -- that's absolute alcohol -- it seems the scales have tipped back in favor of the on-again variety. A recent study in Spain found that men who consumed decent amounts of alcohol reduced their risk of heart disease by more than one third the worldwide average. While this would seem like a license to make a bee-line to your local pub and sink a pint to your heart, brace yourself for the off-again. Too much alcohol consumption will increase your risk of developing a slew of other health problems, to the tune of some 2 million deaths a year.
It should be noted that although the conclusion involves men, the Spanish study involved nearly 42,000 men and women. The study group was monitored over the course of 10 years, at the conclusion of which it was found that the male participants for consumed alcohol on a daily basis managed to reduce their chances of developing heart disease by nearly 35%. For some reason, the female participants did not.
What were the specific amounts of alcohol involved in the study? The male participants averaged between 3 and 11 shots of hard liquor (which consists of absolute alcohol -- the chemical variety, not the name-brand). These amounts initially accounted for a 50% reduction of heart disease numbers. Why the study finalized the reduction percentage to 35% seems to have to do with an amalgam of family history and preexisting conditions.
Why does this only affect men? How? In contrast to female participants, scientist believe the seemingly beneficial effects don't translate to women because of how the fairer sex processes alcohol as it relates to hormonal levels. In regard to men, the alcohol is understood to raise dense lipoproteins, otherwise known as the LDL or "good" cholesterol. This, of course, reduced the amount of HDL cholesterol and keeps arteries nice and smooth.
But the down-side of the this level of alcohol consumption is how it affects the other systems of the body. Liver damage, brain damage, and even pancreatic problems are all intimately related to excess consumption of alcohol -- that is, the levels that seem to reduce heart disease. It should be noted that the chances of inducing a stroke via excess alcohol consumption increase by some 300%! So, again, it's more of the on-again, off-again mayhem when it comes to the recreational drink of choice.
