ALCOHOL + LIFESTYLE

IT’S CERTAINLY not news that moderate alcohol consumption has many potential heart health benefits. Still, new studies that support this platform are always worth a read! Four out of five heart attacks may be prevented by following key healthy lifestyle behaviors including moderate alcohol consumption according to a report published in the journal of the american college of cardiology. According to the study of over 2O,OOO Swedish men, the five low-risk lifestyle behaviors were: having a healthy diet; no smoking; being physically active, having no abdominal fat and moderate alcohol consumption (1O to 3O grams per day) of approximately 1 to 2 standard drinks. There was no differentiation made between spirits, beer or wine.

The researchers found a clear reduction in risk for heart attack for each individual lifestyle factor the participants practiced. This reduction in risk corresponded to 18% for the healthy diet, 11% for moderate alcohol consumption, 36% for no smoking, 3% for being physically active and 12% for having a low abdominal circumference. The study found that combining a low-risk diet together with moderate alcohol consumption led to an estimated 35 percent lower risk of heart attack compared to the high-risk group, those who practice none of the low-risk factors. Men who combined the low-risk diet and moderate alcohol consumption with not smoking, being physically active and having a low amount of abdominal fat, had 86 percent lower risk.