You've probably heard that drinking a glass or two of red wine a day can reduce your risk of heart disease and lower your cholesterol. While there's some truth to this story, not all the news about alcohol is good. Is alcohol really a friend to our hearts? Or is it an enemy we don't know about? Today, let's talk about it all in a clear way.
Is it true that alcohol increases 'good' cholesterol (HDL)?
In fact, some medical studies have found that people who drink alcohol in moderation have a slightly lower risk of heart disease than those who don't drink at all. In addition, alcohol has been found to reduce the risk of blood clots and reduce certain markers of inflammation in the body.
Many people believe that the main benefit of alcohol is its ability to increase the level of 'good' cholesterol in our body, that is, HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol . Now, what is this HDL? Simply put, HDL is like a 'cleaner' that removes and cleans the bad cholesterol that has accumulated in our blood vessels. When this HDL cholesterol increases, the risk of having a heart attack decreases.
Red wine is believed to have this benefit in particular. This is because it contains a lot of natural phytochemicals like resveratrol . These are things that have powerful antioxidant properties. These help protect the walls of our blood vessels.
That is, there is some basis for the idea that a certain amount of alcohol can increase HDL cholesterol and provide some protection for the heart. However, the story does not end there.
So where is the problem? The dark side of alcohol
While alcohol has some benefits, the harms of drinking too much are much greater. Drinking too much can actually increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Not only that, it can also open the door to a host of other serious problems.
Check out the table below to see what the main health risks of drinking too much alcohol can be.
| Health risk | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | Alcohol increases blood pressure, which is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. |
| Increased triglycerides | This is another type of fat in the blood. Alcohol increases these. Increased triglycerides are also a cause of heart disease. |
| Cardiomyopathy | When you drink too much alcohol over a long period of time, the heart muscle weakens, the heart becomes enlarged, and it becomes unable to pump blood properly. |
| Heartbeat irregularities (Arrhythmia) | The heart starts to beat irregularly. This can be a very dangerous condition. |
| Obesity | Alcohol is high in calories, which can lead to weight gain, which can lead to a host of other diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. |
| Cirrhosis of the liver | When you consume more alcohol than your liver can handle, it gradually destroys your liver. This is life-threatening. |
| Cancer risk and other problems | It increases the risk of several types of cancer, including mouth, throat, liver, and breast cancer. It also increases the risk of accidents. |
So what should we do?
Given all of these risks, the world's leading health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, provide very clear advice.
Do not start drinking alcohol again to lower cholesterol or maintain heart health.
Instead, they recommend following safer and more effective methods to keep your cholesterol levels and heart health in check. These include:
- Eating a healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, and fiber-rich foods).
- Regular exercise (like walking for at least 30 minutes a day).
- Controlling your body weight .
- Completely abstain from smoking .
These are the best and safest ways to keep your heart healthy.
If you are already an alcoholic...
Okay, you may already be an occasional drinker. If so, the most important thing for you is to understand exactly what "moderation" means. And, you should definitely talk to your doctor about this.
What is this "size"?
- For women: one standard drink per day
- For men: two standard drinks per day
A "standard drink" is roughly 350 ml of beer (1 can), 150 ml of wine (1 small glass of wine), or 45 ml of spirits (arrack/whisky) (1 shot).
Also, alcohol is not suitable for some people at all. If you belong to one of the following categories, you should completely eliminate alcohol:
- Pregnant women.
- People who take regular medication for certain medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease). (There may be adverse reactions between alcohol and medication. So be sure to ask your doctor about this).
- People with liver disease.
- People who have previously been addicted to alcohol or have a family history of such addiction.
Take-Home Message
- Drinking a small amount of alcohol can slightly increase your 'good' cholesterol (HDL). However, drinking too much can do more harm than good.
- Excessive alcohol consumption can cause many serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and cancer.
- Don't start drinking alcohol just to protect your heart health or control your cholesterol. Instead, focus on a healthy diet and exercise.
- If you already drink alcohol, keep it to a very limited amount (1 drink per day for women, 2 per day for men). Talk to your doctor about any health problems or medications you take to make sure alcohol is appropriate for you.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts here.
Add Your Comment