Imbibe At Your Own Risk

With so many conflicting medical beliefs about the health benefits and risks of alcohol consumption, is there a safe way to drink?

By Bev Bennett
CTW Features

To your health.

It may be more than a toast before you drink. Modest alcohol consumption may improve your wellbeing in several ways, according to health researchers, although caution is advised. You may have heard that drinking red wine is good for your heart or may reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

Occasionally imbibing may also help maintain your bone density if you're a senior, according to a report from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Medford, Mass. If you're worried about becoming physically disabled as you age, once again alcohol may be protective.

One recent study links healthy moderate drinkers, age 50 or older, to a 33 to 65 percent reduction in their odds for becoming disabled compared with those who abstain. (Seniors who are in poor health and drink have the opposite outcome).

But despite the positive associations, health experts are circumspect. Drinking alcohol may increase your risk for breast cancer if you're a woman. Alcohol may also interfere with medications you're taking and add calories to your diet, according to Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo,Ph.D. registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Chicago.

Unfortunately there are no clear-cut answers on whether you can safely drink. Much depends on your personal health and lifestyle, say the experts. When health experts suggest links between alcohol and health they're basing their recommendations on self-reported diaries or the experts' evaluation of certain populations.

It's possible that healthy people are doing things other than drinking to improve their outcomes, according to Gazzaniga-Moloo. In the study on drinking and disability, researchers looked at Americans' drinking habits and their risk of developing a disability that prevents them from dressing themselves, walking or similar activities. The results may support moderate drinking, if that's already part of your lifestyle.

"Our intention was to say if you're already healthy and drink, don't worry," says Arun S. Karlamangla, Ph.D, MD, associate professor of medicine at University of California at Los Angeles. He was one of the researchers and authors of the study on alcohol consumption and disability.

"We're not ready to say that drinking may be beneficial. There's always the concern that you're not looking at some critical factor," says Dr. Karlamangla, who specializes in geriatric medicine.

His research suggests it doesn't matter much whether you drink wine, beer or spirits, as long as you're not overdoing it.

"If you're already drinking and moderately, it's OK. If you're drinking heavily, please stop," says Dr. Karlamangla.

Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"

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