From the NYTimes:The evidence regarding wine versus other beverages like grape juice is mixed.For most people, low-risk drinking is not harmful to health — and may be helpful. However, I would discourage people from drinking in order to improve their health.
Compared with non-drinkers, men who consumed wine, beer, or spirits had a 36% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 34% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Before you recommend wine for cardiovascular risk reduction, consider this:
- One in five men at risk of drinking problem during their lifetimes
- Women have an 8 to 10 percent chance of becoming dependent on alcohol during their lifetimes
- Men have 15% lifetime risk for alcohol abuse, 10% risk for alcohol dependence. Each cuts your life short by 10-15 years.
- Heavy drinking increases risk of depression by 40%, and 80% of people dependent on alcohol are smokers
References:
Should Doctors ‘Prescribe’ a Drink a Day? NYtimes, 2010.
Before you recommend wine for CV risk reduction, consider this: 1 in 5 men at risk of drinking problem
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.
