Gaby
Alcohol can be beneficial. This claim is believed to have originated back in the days of ancient Greek healers. However, debates continue about whether alcohol truly offers health benefits.
A Little Alcohol Won’t Hurt a Healthy Person
Professor of neuropsychopharmacology David Nutt has dedicated an entire book to the topic of alcohol consumption. In his work titled “Drink or Not to Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health” (2021), he notes that having one glass of wine a day reduces the risk of dying from issues related to moderate drinking to less than 1%.
Recent studies support the British expert’s assertions. According to researchers, consuming a small amount of alcohol not only poses no harm to health but may also help reduce the risk of heart problems.
It’s important to note that this statement applies only to healthy individuals. For someone with serious kidney or liver issues, alcohol is definitely not a good idea.
The Health Benefits of Small Alcohol Doses
In a scientific study, researchers examined brain scans of 754 individuals. They also reviewed data from over 50,000 Americans. This research became the first to indicate the long-term neurobiological effects of alcohol.
Researchers claim that occasional alcohol consumption lowers stress levels associated with heart attacks and strokes. Of course, that’s good news worth raising a glass of wine to! 🙂
Experts found that women who consumed up to one alcoholic drink per day and men who had a maximum of two had a lower risk of cardiovascular problems compared to those who drank more or abstained entirely. Previous studies hinted that this might have a protective effect. Now, scientists believe they have identified the physiological reason behind it.
Researchers discovered that regular consumption of small amounts of alcohol leads to a long-term reduction in stress signals in the brain related to heart attacks and strokes. This contributes to a lasting neurobiological effect. Experts hope that this understanding could lead to treatments that replicate the protective effects of alcohol on the heart without the negative consequences, such as cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
How Does Alcohol Protect the Heart?
Brain imaging during the study showed that individuals who consume alcohol moderately have reduced stress signal transmission in the amygdala—a part of the brain responsible for the stress response. By reviewing the cardiovascular history of the study participants, researchers found fewer instances of heart attacks and strokes.
Cardiologist Ahmed Tawakol, the lead author of the study, shared the findings with the Daily Mail: “We found that changes in the brains of those who drink light to moderate alcohol explain a significant portion of the heart’s protective effects.”
Moderate alcohol consumption in individuals more prone to stress reactions had nearly double the heart-protective effect compared to others. However, this positive outcome diminished when people drank more.
Those who consumed more than the recommended 14 servings per week faced an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, while overall brain activity decreased. According to the study’s authors, there is a need to focus on finding new interventions that reduce stress activity in the brain.
Good, But Not All Good
Professor of metabolic medicine Naveed Sattar cautions that the results should not be seen as a green light for drinking (even in moderation). He points out that the problem is that we know alcohol is still linked to a significant number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
Moderate alcohol consumption reduces stress and anxiety levels, which in turn lowers the risk of dying from heart disease. However, according to the World Heart Federation (WHF), over 2.4 million people died from alcohol-related causes worldwide in 2019.
The risks depend on how often and how much a person drinks. It’s essential to remember that alcohol can be addictive. Therefore, in practice, the risks often outweigh the benefits.
Professor Sattar emphasizes that focusing solely on one small aspect, even if it’s true, creates a misleading impression. The claim that light or moderate alcohol consumption improves heart health is deceptive and perpetuates myths. In reality, it simply means that healthy individuals are less likely to suffer from heart issues. Thus, the question of whether alcohol can truly be considered part of a healthy lifestyle remains partially unanswered.
