Is Moderate Drinking Really Good for Your Health?

[Angel]

The majority of studies suggesting moderate drinking helps prevent heart disease may be flawed, according to researchers.

A new report by researchers from the United States, Canada and Australia analyzes 54 studies that linked the amount people drink to the risk of premature death from all causes. Investigators found when the studies showed a higher death rate for people who abstained from drinking compared to moderate drinkers, it was a reflection of poor health by the abstainers who recently quit drinking rather than an indication of a protective effect of alcohol.

By combining the data from the studies, researchers showed it was possible to perform new analyses revealing a protective effect of moderate drinking.

This was only the case, however, when they deliberately included error by evaluating both long-term abstainers with people who had reduced alcohol intake or quit drinking recently. Study authors caution their report has not disproved the notion that light drinking is good for health. It simply questions the extent to which these benefits actually translate into longer life.

"Our research suggests light drinking is a sign of good health, not necessarily its cause," says Kaye Fillmore, Ph.D., of the UCSF School of Nursing.

Tim Stockwell, Ph.D., from the Center for Addictions Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, says, "The widely held belief that light or moderate drinking greatly protects against coronary heart disease has had a great influence on alcohol policy and clinical advice of doctors to their patients throughout the world." Stockwell stresses the findings suggest caution should be exerted in recommending light drinking to abstainers because of the possibility that this result may be more apparent than real.

[Paranoid]

define light drinking and moderate drinking .. please...

[Doctor]

parnoid i hope this link would help you What Is Moderate Drinking?

[Paranoid]

thanks you

[demon_dissector]

Responsible drinking guidelines

Responsible or low risk: Level at which drinking is unlikely to cause health problems
-Men---Three units per day, with a maximum of 21units per week spread throughout the week (including at least two alcohol-free days per week)
-Women---Two units per day with a maximum of 14units per week spread throughout the week (including at least two alcohol-free days per week)

Hazardous or increased risk:Level at which there is an increasing risk of problems such as raised blood pressure, stroke, liver cirrhosis
-Men---3–7 units per day, or 22–49 units/week
-Women---2–5 units per day, or 15–35 units/week

Harmful or definitely dangerous: Sustained drinking at this level is likely to cause physical, mental, social problems
-Men---7+ units per day, or 50+ units per week
-Women---5+ units per day, or 35+ units per week

Alcohol content of alcoholic drinks:
Beers, lagers, cider
Ordinary strength (3.5 or 4% ABV)
1 pint = 2 units
1 large can (500 ml) = 2 units

Extra strong beers, lagers, cider
Extra strong (8 or 9 % ABV)
1 pint = 4 units
1 can = 4 units

Table Wine
1 small glass white (8 or 9% ABV) = 1 unit
1 small glass red (11 or 12% ABV) = 1.5 units
1 large glass (175 ml) red (12%) = 2 units
1 bottle = 7–10 units
1 x 75 cl bottle of 12% proof red = 9 units
1 x 75 cl bottle of 9% proof white = 7 units

Spirits
1 x standard measure = 1 unit
1 x 75cl bottle of spirits = 28 units

Alco-pops
1 x 330 ml bottle (5%) = 1.5 units
1 x 20cl bottle (13.5%) = 2.7 units

1 unit = 8 g or 10ml (1 cl) of pure alcohol
ABV = Percentage of alcohol by volume
To work out the exact number of units in a drink, multiply the volume of the drink (in ml) by the %ABV and divide by 1000.