Moderate drinking has been associated with a lower incidence of coronary heart disease in more than forty prospective studies. This only applies to moderate drinking — defined as one drink or less per day for women, and two drinks or less for men. Excess alcohol is of course harmful - more than moderate alcohol intake is associated with increased fat around the waist and other potential problems, especially increased incidence of cancer. (1)
As a result of these studies, alcohol has been touted as “heart-healthy”. However, alcohol does not actually have any beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, it only inhibits the blood's clotting mechanisms, similar to aspirin. Researchers have found that this interference with blood clotting does grant some protective effect against heart attacks, but this protective effect is valuable only in a person or population consuming a dangerous, heart-disease-promoting diet. Eating a diet rich in unrefined plant foods is health-promoting and effective at preventing heart disease, and then the risks associated with thinning the blood such as hemorrhagic stroke and stomach and intestinal bleeding is not increased. Thinning the blood with alcohol or aspirin has potentially life-threatening risks.
Alcohol consumption also leads to mild withdrawal sensations the next day that are commonly mistaken for hunger. This leads people to eat more than is genuinely necessary, resulting in weight gain. One glass of wine per day is likely insignificant, but I advise against higher levels of alcohol consumption, as it may lead to health problems. For example, even moderate alcohol consumption is linked to higher rates of breast cancer and also higher rates of breast cancer recurrence after diagnosis (2) – since breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women (second to cardiovascular disease), it is best for women to minimize alcohol consumption in order to reduce these risks. Alcohol is also associated with cardiac arrhythmias, which may lead to sudden cardiac death.(3)
Red wine is the alcoholic beverage most often associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. Red wine does contains some beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and resveratrol, a potent antioxidant in the skin of grapes associated with a number of health benefits. Of course, grapes, raisins, berries, and other plant foods also contain these beneficial compounds. It is not necessary to drink wine to obtain these phytochemicals.
Overall, it is safer to eat a diet that will not permit heart disease rather than to rely on alcohol to decrease the potential of blood to clot. The bottom line is that the moderate drinking of alcohol is only an advantage to those who consume an unhealthy diet. There are no protective effects in low risk individuals consuming healthful, plant based diets with resultant low cholesterol levels. It is wiser to avoid the detrimental effects of alcohol completely and protect yourself from heart disease with nutritional excellence.
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References:
1. Ferreira MG et al. Rev Saude Publica. 2008 Dec;42(6):1067-73.
Sesso HD et al. Hypertension. 2008 Apr;51(4):1080-7.
2. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/SABCS/17444
Singletary KW, Gapstur SM. JAMA. 2001 Nov 7;286(17):2143-51.
3. George A, Figueredo VM. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2010 Apr;11(4):221-8.
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