What Are The Benefits Of Moderate Alcohol Intake?

The excessive consumption of alcohol is known to affect the health of people in several ways. It may hamper liver functions, reduce cardiac efficiency, contribute to inflammation, and even trigger faster aging. However, moderate alcohol intake is linked to a few health benefits. Research studies have revealed that the moderate intake of alcohol may reduce the risk of heart attacks to some extent.

However, there is a need to understand the risks and possible health benefits linked to alcohol consumption in order to avoid developing any complications. Here is a brief discussion about the benefits of moderate alcohol intake and the risks involved in the same.

Benefits of Moderate Alcohol Intake

Stress Relief

Research studies have revealed that moderate alcohol intake may create a stress-relieving effect and reduce the risk of heart disease. It may also protect the person against the risk of ischemic stroke and diabetes. It should be noted that these benefits are primarily linked to the intake of wine.

The stress-relieving effect of drinking wine appears in studies conducted to assess the benefits of alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol creates a sense of ‘high’ that allows people to feel happier and relaxed. It also helps them forget their stress, though temporarily. Red wine also contains the antioxidant resveratrol. According to the Mayo Clinic, “resveratrol might help prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and prevent blood clots.”

However, this is also one of the reasons why most people find it difficult to give up the habit when they start developing the complications of alcohol consumption. Hence, it is advisable to limit your alcohol intake and avoid excessive consumption in order to derive the benefits and avoid serious consequences.

It is important to define the term moderate in order to avoid excessive drinking that could increase the risk of life-threatening diseases like cirrhosis substantially.

Moderate alcohol intake in healthy adults usually means up to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. The quantities of 1 drink include 12 fluid ounces (or 355 milliliters) for beer, 5 fluid ounces (or 148 milliliters) wine, and 1.5 fluid ounces (or 44 milliliters) for distilled spirits.

Improves Social Interactions

Frequent social interactions seem to contribsute to the benefits of moderate alcohol intake. It is believed that the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol use on cardiac functions could be linked to depressive symptomatology. This suggests that moderate intake of alcohol can provide better benefits when it occurs as a part of social gatherings.

Socializing is considered an important part of maintaining optimum physical and emotional health. Men and women who consume moderate quantities of alcohol during social interactions tend to experience a sense of relaxation more effectively than those who consume alcohol alone.

Hence, the focus should be on deriving the combined benefits of moderate alcohol intake and social interactions. This suggests that people should preferably limit their alcohol intake to social gatherings. This would not just help them avoid excessive intake but also enable them to derive the combined benefits of both moderate alcohol use as well as social interactions.

Risks of Alcohol Intake

Being aware of the benefits of moderate alcohol intake has its own dangers. Most men and women, who know that alcohol intake can provide a few health benefits, tend to consume a higher quantity of these beverages, which can put them at a risk of serious life-threatening conditions.

Heavy drinking can trigger immunological disorders and inflammation in the liver resulting in alcoholic hepatitis. It may also lead to the scarring of the liver leading to the development of cirrhosis, which is a potentially fatal disorder. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of autoimmune disorders and hypertension. It may also cause immense damage to the heart muscles thus increasing the risk of cardiomyopathy. This points to the need to be aware of the risks involved in alcohol consumption.

It is also important to note that even moderate and light alcohol intake is not risk-free. Research studies have shown that light drinkers, who have no more than 1 drink a day, also have an increased risk of cancers, including esophageal cancers.

Be sure to minimize your risk of alcohol-related health issues by keeping a close eye on intake and consider adding immune system supplements to your diet. BioPro-Plus is an immunity-balancing supplement that can promote the activities of immune cells. It could reduce inflammation and damage to the liver and heart and help you derive the benefits of moderate alcohol intake while also helping to avoid serious complications related to immunological dysfunctions.