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I'm really confused about how much alcohol is good to drink. I've always been told "too much" is bad for you -- alcoholism and liver damage. Then it was, "Oh alcohol is good for your heart." Now I heard a report that it's also good for the bones." It doesn't seem like we can have it both ways...bad for you, good for you. What do you tell your patients?
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You are correct -- what is being reported by the news media and health care experts does seem confusing. Just as you say, too much alcohol consumption can lead to some serious health consequences and even death. But how much is too much?
Right now, the medical definition of an alcoholic is a male who drinks more than 14 alcoholic drinks/week or more than 4 drinks on any day. For women (who don't metabolize alcohol as easily as men do), more than seven alcoholic drinks/week or more than 3 drinks on any day constitutes alcoholism. One drink is equal to one 12 oz. beer, one 5 oz. glass of wine, or 1.5 oz. of hard liquor.
Using these definitions, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that two to 10 percent of individuals aged 65 years or older are alcoholics. That percentage translates into about three million older Americans and 14 million total number of adults in the United States.
When is a little alcohol good for you and why? Recommendations for one drink a day as being healthy started with awareness that tannins and antioxidants (present in the grape skins used to make wine) are beneficial to the heart. A glass of wine may also benefit the bones. But the sugar and alcohol content in wine may not be as helpful. And the recommendation to drink daily certainly does not extend to hard liquor.
Most experts suggest if you don't drink, don't start. If you do drink and you drink more than the recommended amount, it's likely time to stop. This is especially true for anyone who cannot go a day without a drink and suffer some ill side effects when trying to stop.
But for those who can sip a glass of red wine once a day or even every other day, the benefits may outweight the empty calories. Of course many people have turned to nutritional supplements that contain all the healthful ingredients of wine to support heart and bone health without putting the liver and other organs at risk.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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