5 positive effects of alcohol

Moderate drinking can be healthy—but not for everyone. You must weigh the risks and benefits.

–Introduction
–What’s Moderate Alcohol Intake?

What’s a Drink?
–The Downside of Alcohol
–Possible Health Benefits of Alcohol
–Genes Play a Role
–Shifting Benefits and Risks
–The Bottom Line: Balancing Risks and Benefits

Introduction

Throughout the 10,000 or so years that humans have been drinking fermented beverages, they’ve also been arguing about their merits and demerits.

The debate still simmers today, with a lively back-and-forth over whether alcohol is good for you or bad for you.

It’s safe to say that alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. The difference lies mostly in the dose.

How much alcohol is safe to drink daily?

Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system, and probably protects against type 2 diabetes and gallstones. Heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death in most countries. In the U.S., alcohol is implicated in about half of fatal traffic accidents.

[1] Heavy drinking can damage the liver and heart, harm an unborn child, increase the chances of developi