BOOZE BOOST-The Health Benefits of alcohol

I know what you're thinking; alcohol, healthy?

Yes, generally speaking alcohol has had a bad rep—drink too much, and you can damage your liver, pack on pounds, and put strain on your heart. But a growing body of research shows that if you intake just the right amount—one serving a day for women, two for men—you’ll actually see some serious health benefits, says registered dietician Nicolette Pace, president of NutriSource, Inc. So, raise your glasses in a toast to these 5 reasons that it's okay,to well, raise your glasses!

1.You'll Boost Your Heart Health


It turns out you really can drink to your heart’s content. People who drink alcohol in moderation are up to 25 percent less likely to develop heart disease (which kills about one million Americans a year) than those who drink no alcohol at all, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal. Why? Alcohol has anti-inflammatory properties, thinning your blood, increasing your levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and breaking up LDL (bad) cholesterol.

2.You'll Prevent Strokes

Think strokes were your parents’ problem? Think again: People younger than 55 currently make up about 19 percent of all stroke patients—up almost 50 percent from 1993, according to a new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Luckily, by improving blood and oxygen flow and preventing blood clots that can block arteries to you brain, moderate alcohol consumption can reduce your risk of stroke, according to a recent study published in the journal Stroke.

3.You'll Beat the Common Cold

Your favorite libation can cut down the cold virus. People who have one to two drinks a day have an 65 percent greater resistance to the cold than do those who shun the sauce, according to research published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers believe that alcohol’s anti-inflammatory effect may suppress the production of mucus while limiting the replication of cold viruses.

You'll Cut Your Risk of Diabetes

Have one to two drinks of alcohol a day and you’ll reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 36 percent, according to research from the Harvard School of Public Health. Alcohol works its magic by promoting insulin secretion and helping glucose get inside cells, fueling their activity and reducing the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Lowering your blood glucose levels can also lower your risk of developing the disease, which, according to the American Diabetes Association, affects 11.8 percent and 10.8 percent of men and women ages 20 and older, respectively.

5.You'll Slim Down

A recent study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who have one or two drinks a day are less likely to gain weight than those who abstain. The key lies in alcohol’s role in insulin secretion and blood sugar regulation. What’s more, your body requires a whole lot of energy to process alcohol, which can actually get your metabolism humming, Pace says. Your body wants to store excess glucose (or sugar) in your blood as fat, so if you keep your blood sugar in check, you can prevent packing on energy reserves around your waist. All alcohol contains seven calories per gram, so the mixes are what really make the caloric difference: Pace recommends using seltzer, tea, coffee, or natural fruit essences.

Cheers!