Everyday Health: Can drinking alcohol affect my cholesterol
levels?  Pamela Warren, MS, CHN: Alcohol can elevate your
triglyceride level. What are triglycerides and how are they part
of cholesterol? A cholesterol molecule is filled with
triglycerides. Consuming alcohol makes your body produce a
higher level of triglycerides. With a higher level of
triglycerides, the liver has to process excess cholesterol
molecules, and the level of cholesterol in your blood will
increase.  Stuart A. Seale, MD: Studies show that moderate
drinking will increase HDL cholesterol, which helps protect
against cardiovascular disease. It does not lower total
cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. Wine seems to have a better
effect than beer or spirits. For men, moderate drinking is
defined as one or two servings per day of wine, beer, or
spirits. For women, it's defined as one serving per day. A
serving of beer is 8-10 ounces, 4 ounces for wine, and 1.5
ounces for spirits.  Lisa Matzer, MD: Moderate alcohol
consumption - such as one glass