by Reid K. Hester, Ph.D.
Moderate consumption of alcohol has health benefits of reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The hypothesized mechanism of action is to make red blood platelets less "sticky" and reducing their ability to clot together. There is also some evidence that the alcohol raises HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. By moderate we mean 1-2 5 oz. glasses of wine per day.
The other good news in this area is evidence that drinking grape juice (without the alcohol) seems to have the same benefit. And you can raise your HDLs by increasing your level of muscle mass either through weight training or aerobic exercise.
What this means is that, if you drink alcohol, doing so moderately can decrease your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. However, if you don't drink alcohol, you can achieve the same benefits with grape juice and exercise.
About the Author:
Reid K. Hester, Ph.D., Director, Research Division, Behavior Therapy Associates, 3810 Osuna Rd NE Suite 1, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Phone: 505.345.6100.
Revised 8/15/08 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.
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