Is a glass of red wine every day good for your health, or should you avoid alcohol completely?

For many of us, a glass It's tempting to think that a glass (or two) of wine a day might have health benefits.

Health authorities such as National Health and Medical Research Council and world health organization Considering that each drop increases the risk of diseases such as breast cancer, it is said that the less alcohol you consume, the better.

However, research shows that this is not unpleasant for many people.

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Let's take a middle-aged woman as an example. in australia they drink alcohol more than I've had in decadesand new research shows that many people believe alcohol in moderation is okay, despite the risks.

“They say things like, 'I heard a study says it's good for your heart,' or 'I heard a study says it's OK to have a drink or two.'” Samantha Batchelor, who went there, says: Earned his Ph.D. from Torrens University.

That's true. Some research suggests that drinking alcohol every day may have health benefits.

So what's behind these conflicting messages around alcohol? How can we make sense of it all?

french paradox

A concept called the “French Paradox” gained traction in the 1980s, leading to a common sigh of relief among those who love to drink.

Behind it was a study that discovered: Coronary heart disease prevalence among French people was lower than expectedThis is because they tend to prefer cheese and other saturated animal fats.

However, over time, the French paradox fell out of favor. Some describe it as an illusion.

The French at the time ate a lot of cheese, but they also had a plant-rich diet. Emma Beckett, a nutritionist at Newcastle University, said it was close to the Mediterranean diet, which is thought to be linked to cardiovascular health.

“Maybe, if [researchers at the time] If we had collected data specifically on fruit and vegetable intake, we would have found even stronger explanatory factors. ”

Other factors that can skew the results of health surveys include income level, genes, smoking, and how active people are.

According to Dr. Beckett, U.S. wine sales increased in response to France's contradictions.

“However, there has been no decline in coronary heart disease in the United States since then, which would be expected if wine was indeed to blame.” [protecting the heart]. ”

Still, the French paradox remains an attractive idea, even though it has been debunked.

“I think the reason the French paradox is so ingrained in the public psyche is because it has a sexy backstory,” Beckett says.

“Who wouldn't want to live like a French person? It sounds so nice and civilized.”

J curve

Other studies unrelated to the French also support the idea that consuming “moderate alcohol” is good for health.

Supporters of this idea point out the so-called “.J curve“The link between alcohol and health: People who drink small amounts a day appear to be healthier than those who don't drink at all. For example, they are less likely to die from coronary heart disease.”

But let's take a closer look at this.

Tanya Chikulitz, an epidemiologist and biostatistician at Curtin University's National Pharmaceutical Research Institute, has been researching other explanations for the J-curve for 15 years.

She pointed out that all studies are “observational,” meaning they classify people into different groups (in this case based on drinking history) and compare health outcomes.

But people seem to be I have a hard time remembering my drinking history.says Professor Kricklitz.

And the “non-drinker” category did not tend to differentiate between those who had never drank and those who had.

Some former drinkers quit alcohol because they felt sick. wrong conclusion.

“The non-drinking group appears to be in poor health because they don't drink,” says Professor Chikulicz.

She added that research that supports the J-curve continues to be published, but suggests that drinking alcohol may not give us the advantage we expect.

Previous J-curves suggested that one to two drinks a day were beneficial for health, but these days this number is closer to half that of a standard drink, she says.

But Dr Beckett said that whatever the evidence about the J-curve, there was no evidence that non-drinkers should start drinking, and it was arguable that drinking too much alcohol increased the risk of heart disease and early death. He emphasizes that there is no room.

The purported benefits of alcohol could also be obtained in other ways, she added.

“Fifteen minutes of daily exercise has a similar effect on coronary heart disease risk from the best of the J-curve as alcohol, without increasing the risk of other diseases.”

Weigh the risks and benefits

Of course, people who drink alcohol don't just do so because they think it's good for their health.

Batchelor, a doctoral student at Torrens University, said the women in her study consumed alcohol for all sorts of reasons.

Some people drink for fun or social reasons, while others drink to manage stress.

And the immediate reason for drinking can override long-term health effects, such as an increased risk of breast cancer, she says.

“The risk of alcohol's future impact on their health is less important, especially if women are using alcohol as a coping mechanism in extremely difficult life circumstances.” [to them] Right now. “

Women reasoned that too. Eating right and exercising can counteract the risk of breast cancer caused by alcohol.

There was also a fatalistic mindset that thought it was all a matter of luck.

“Some people can have a really healthy, great lifestyle and still get breast cancer, so it's a bit of a lottery ticket,” another study participant commented.

But no matter how you weigh the risks and benefits, it's worth knowing the latest scientific evidence.

As links between alcohol and cancer, heart disease, liver disease and mental health problems grow stronger, official drinking guidelines aimed at minimizing harm are becoming stricter, Professor Chiklics says.

Dr Beckett said a “comprehensive review” of all the risks and benefits of alcohol was needed to better inform policy.

“If drinking improves the risk of coronary heart disease but dramatically worsens the risk of cancer, is that, overall, a choice we should make?”

What about resveratrol? Grape juice? Alcohol-free wine?

As part of efforts to understand the causes of wine's purported health-promoting effects, considerable research has been conducted on a chemical called resveratrol.

Found in the skin of grapes, especially red grapes, all kinds of health benefits From protecting our hearts to doing what is good for us. intestinal bacteria.

However, according to Dr. Beckett, evidence of resveratrol's benefits primarily comes from laboratory studies using grape extract supplements, which contain much higher concentrations of resveratrol than wine itself.

Rather than drinking more wine, she recommends eating more foods containing resveratrol, including peanuts, mulberries, blueberries, and strawberries, as well as red grapes.

While we're talking about grapes, what about grape juice or alcohol-free wine?

Unfortunately, there isn't enough evidence for these benefits, but Dr. Beckett says there may be benefits if you can reduce your alcohol intake.