Potential benefits of alcohol for women

Recent studies have suggested that the moderate use of alcohol could have a number of heart-friendly benefits for some women. For example, a number of studies have shown that one drink per day of wine could cut a woman’s risk of dying from heart disease in half, particularly in women over 50 with high blood pressure (hypertension) and a family history of heart disease.

Catheter studies of the coronary arteries as well as autopsy findings have shown regular, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with less fatty blockage in the arteries in comparison with a lack of and/or excess alcohol consumption. Other studies have found that regular moderate drinking also has some effect on raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels in the blood. It is important to note that moderate alcohol use for women generally means no more than one drink per day. One drink means 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor. It appears that the benefits are not specific for one type of alcohol over another, although some studies have touted the effects of red wine in particular.

At this time, physicians do not recommend that non-drinkers take up drinking solely for its potential heart benefits. There are other preventive strategies that are equally or even more effective in reducing the risk of heart disease.