Excessive drinking is never a good idea as it is very unhealthy for your mental and physical wellbeing. However, consuming alcohol moderately can provide substantial benefits to your health. Moderate alcohol consumption every day has been defined as up to 2 drinks for men and a single drink for women.
Before we dig deeper into this aspect, it should be understood by all that alcohol consumption along with its benefits tend to vary according to each individual’s body type and makeup.
Myths about Alcohol
It isn’t easy by any means to separate myth from the truth. This is because for many individuals, the truth is rather overshadowed by myth. If you try telling them that the truth is entirely different, it would be the equivalent of challenging their beliefs. However, in order to educate the people about the reality regarding alcohol, it is crucial to eradicate all the myths surrounding the subject. And only the truth is capable of eradicating myths.
The following are the top three myths about alcoholism which are a reality for many. These myths are further eclipsed by the actual facts to help educate you about the truth.
Myth: Predominantly, alcohol is a sedative and functions as a depressant drug.
Reality: Alcohol’s effects regarding pharmacology vary according to the level of consumption. If consumed moderately, alcohol is merely a stimulant. Conversely, it is capable of acting as a sedative if consumed in large amounts. However, regardless of the level of consumption, there is one undeniable fact that alcohol is a potent and rich agent of energy and calories.
Myth: People who excessively drink alcohol long enough are likely to get addicted to it, as it is a highly addictive drug.
Reality: Alcohol is an addictive drug only for alcoholics. This may be a rather obvious statement but if understood carefully, it eclipses the entire concept of alcohol and addiction. Alcohol is a drug which is selectively addictive, and only some drinkers (alcoholics) are likely to find it addictive. Alcoholics will be addicted regardless of the amount they consume. However, most people can consume alcohol on occasion or even everyday in excessive quantities, and they wouldn’t get addicted.
Myth: For the alcoholic, alcohol is poisonous and harmful.
Reality: Alcohol has been proven time and again as the best solution for its own harmful effects. Due to its normalizing properties, it is capable of providing stimulation, energy, and relief from the pain caused due to withdrawal to the alcoholic. The poisonous and harmful aftereffects of alcohol consumption are only evident once the alcoholic stops consuming.
Benefits of Moderate Alcohol Consumption
The following are the various health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption:
It Lowers the Chances of Cardiovascular Disease
The primary cause of the most common type of stroke and majority of heart attacks is the blockage of arteries in the neck, brain, and heart, which is caused by the formation of small clots of blood.
Moderate levels of alcohol are capable of raising the HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels, which is also termed as the ‘good’ cholesterol. Higher levels of HDL are the leading agent when it comes to prevention of heart disease. Moderate levels of alcohol also provide prevention from the factors that cause the clotting of blood, as well as delivering improved sensitivity to insulin. As such, alcohol is well capable of reducing the chances of cardiovascular disease.
This study was carried out by the Harvard University’s School of Public Health. The findings were applicable to all individuals, both male and female, who don’t have a history of any kind of cardiovascular disease.
It Prevents the Individual from Common Cold
It is common knowledge that individuals become susceptible to common cold after smoking. On the contrary, moderate levels of alcohol are well capable of preventing nonsmokers from catching the common cold. This study was carried out on 391 adults by the Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Psychology in 1993.
In 2002, Spanish researchers, according to an article in the New York Times, came to a conclusion that consuming 8 to 14 glasses of wine on a weekly basis (particularly red wine) can decrease the risk of contracting the common cold by an astonishing 60 percent. Scientists believe that this was due to the wine’s antioxidant properties.
It Is Capable of Lengthening One’s Life
Occasional alcohol consumption is capable of increasing your overall lifespan. According to Reuters, a study conducted by the Catholic University of Campobasso found out that less than 4 to 2 alcoholic drinks on a daily basis for both men and women are capable of reducing the chances of natural death by an interesting 18 percent.
According to the author of the study, Dr. Giovanni de Gaetano, moderate quantities of alcohol, preferably in meals, is the right way to drink. And for the risks of natural death to be decreased, the individual must spend the rest of the day alcohol-free.
It Lowers the Risk of Diabetes
As compared to those who don’t consume alcohol at all, healthy adults who consume 1-2 glasses of alcohol on a daily basis are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The results of a study carried out by Dutch researchers showed that moderate levels of alcohol provide a healthy lifestyle to adults and reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
It Decreases the Risks of Dementia
According to a report in the journal of Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, a study conducted since 1977 which consisted of more than 365,000 individuals proved that people who moderately consume alcohol are 23 percent less likely to develop dementia, including all of its forms such as Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.
The study stated that moderate alcohol consumption is capable of strengthening brain cells. Alcohol in small amounts places stress on brain cells. As a result, it makes them more fit and strengthens them up, providing them the ability to cope with any major stresses that can lead to dementia.
Although this post discusses some proven health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, we strongly condemn any forms of excessive drinking. The health benefits of alcohol consumption are only applicable as long as the drinking is moderate.