National Alcohol Awareness Month

When taking diet histories, I always ask about liquids, too. Water, coffee/tea, soda, juice and alcohol can affect our health in positive or negative ways. We all know water consumption is associated with good health and that soda, sweetened tea and juice contribute calories from sugar. But what about alcohol?  The reviews and research are mixed like cocktails!  Below are the pros and cons to alcohol.Drink this (in moderation)

1. Heart disease.  Research suggests that moderate alcohol intake (1 drink/day for women, 2 drinks/day for men) may aid in raising HDL (AKA healthy) cholesterol and lowering LDL (lousy) cholesterol.
2. Dementia.  While alcoholics have a higher risk for dementia, individuals that drink moderately actually have a lower rate of dementia over time than abstainers.
3. Weight loss.  While too many cocktails can lead to the dreaded beer belly, a 2010 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who drank 1-2 drinks/day were less likely to gain weight than those who didn't imbibe.
4. Reduced risk for diabetes. A 2005 study found suggests that moderate drinking 1-2 drinks/day cuts risk for diabetes up to 30%.
5. Less risk for gallstones.  Moderate drinking has been found to reduce the risk of those pesky hard stones made of cholesterol that cause pain in the middle of your gut.

Put down the bottle

1. Breast cancer.  While we all may be thrilled that moderate drinking may prevent weight gain, we're not too excited that even 1 alcoholic drink raises the risk for breast cancer by 12%.  Oral cancer and rectal cancer are also increased with excessive alcohol consumption.
2. Liver disease.  Since alcohol is metabolized in the liver, this vital organ takes a hit when abused.
3. Cardiovascular disease.  Too much alcohol not only raises blood pressure, it also increases risk for cardiomyopathy- a condition that leads to weakened heart muscle as well as dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation.
4. Depression.  Depressed individuals may turn to the bottle to reduce stress or anxiety. But most depression subsides when alcohol is reduced or avoided.
5. Gout.  Gout is a type of arthritis that's caused when uric acid levels in the blood are elevated.  Alcohol raises uric acid levels, which can exacerbate a gout attack.

 If you want to enjoy a glass of wine or beer now and then, moderation may be beneficial to your health.  But if alcohol intake is out of control or worsening any of the conditions above, it’s time to get off the sauce.  Instead, try a "mocktail™- club soda, tonic water or carbonated water with a twist of lemon or lime.  Bottoms up!