When using only epidemiological studies to determine benefits, lifestyle, diet and other cultural factors can confound what actually contributes to the benefit. Europeans get more exercise than Americans, and Americans carry more excess weight, a known contributor to heart disease.  These can often explain some of the benefits of the “French Paradox.”  However, there are health factors that seem to be independent of other factors and are being attributed to a moderate consumption of alcohol.  These include.

• Decrease in arteriosclerosis.
• Increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol.
• Short-term effect on blood clotting.  This means that alcohol tends to thin the blood right after a drink.

Red wine seems to have an added benefit.   It is fermented with the skin and seeds of the grape.  Phytochemicals, shown to have antioxidant properties 20-50 times as effective as vitamin C, are contained in the skin and seeds.   There is also some evidence that red wine decrease the incidence of the helico bacterpylori, the bacteria associated with ulcers.  White wine does not contain the same amount of phytochemicals but red grape juice does and so do adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables

The health benefits of any intoxicating beverage greatly diminish after 2-3 drinks per day. (One drink is the equivalent of 4 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1 ½ ounces of 80 proof liquor.)  As alcohol intake increases a number of adverse health risks start to take effect, which counter any possible health benefits that may be achieved.  These include:

• Alcohol tends to encourage overeating thus contributing to obesity.  The alcohol itself has calories.
• Red wines as well as other alcoholic beverages have been considered one of the triggers for headaches in susceptible people.
• Water loss and possible dehydration with alcohol abuse.  It is best to include food and other beverages when alcohol is included.
• Vitamin deficiencies increase as the amount of alcohol increases.  Electrolyte depletion is especially evident due to excess water loss.
• Increased risk of breast cancer in women.
• Excess alcohol intake contributes the high blood pressure. (HTN).
• The worst problem with any alcoholic beverage is that it can be additive and there is no way of knowing who will be susceptible to this addition.  This addictive property can quickly turn a moderate drinker into and excessive drinker and the individual may deny that this has happened.  At this point alcohol not only ruins the health, it destroys families and lives.  

Alcohol decreases oxygen to all parts of the body especially to the brain and therefore the body has to function at less than optimal rate until the alcohol has been detoxified.   It takes the liver about one hour to detoxify one drink and therefore when alcohol consumption is faster than that, the amount of alcohol builds up in the body.   Women and the elderly are more susceptible then men to the adverse effects of alcohol.  

As this holiday season progresses if you must include alcohol do so very moderately and for the best source of all phytochemicals goodness just include more fruits and vegetables.