Who would have thought that the frothy beer, the smoky whiskey or even that glass of luscious red wine could actually be beneficial? If recent studies are anything to go by alcohol may not be half as bad as it has always been imagined to be. According to Eric Rimm, Sc.D, associate professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, one of the most consistent findings in recent nutrition research is that moderate alcohol consumption can improve health and lead to a longer life.

The dual-sided nature of alcohol has often been compared to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. For years, there have been debates on whether alcohol kills or cures, whether it is a tonic or a poison? Years of research say that it can be both, good and evil —it depends on your consumption.

Time to say cheers
According to data available at the Harvard School of Public Health, a review of more than 100 prospective studies showed that moderate drinking could actually reduce cardiovascular health causes by up to 40 per cent.u00a0In 2010, a study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who had one or two drinks a day were less likely to gain weight than those did not drink. Yes, it’s true that moderate alcohol consumption can also help those afflicted with diabetes.

A 2005, Diabetes Care report found that up to a drink a day for women and two for men could actually reduce the condition by 30 per cent. Alcohol, basically, increases levels of a hormone that improves insulin sensitivity.u00a0According to Dr Vijay Surase, Interventional Cardiologist at the Jupiter Hospital, Thane, numerous studies do suggest that moderate alcohol consumption helps reduce heart disease by raising HDL-high density lipoprotein or (good) cholesterol and reducing plaque accumulation in the arteries. “Alcohol has a mild anti-coagulating effect that keeps platelets from clumping together to form clots. Both actions can reduce heart attacks but exactly how alcohol influences is still unclear.”

How much is too much?
A pioneering study led by Dr Kenneth Mukamal, an internist at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, also in Boston, examined the roles of drinking patterns and heart disease and found, after a 12-year follow-up, that men who consumed alcohol between three and seven days a week had fewer heart attacks than those who drank, everyday.

Almost all studies seem to suggest that what counts is how much you drink rather than what you drink. Dr Surase says that moderate alcohol consumption is usually classified as one-two drinks per day for men and a drink a day for women. u00a0One drink is defined as one-and-a half (fl oz) of 80 proof spirits such as bourbon, scotch, vodka or gin, 4 fl oz for wine and 12 fl oz for beer. Surase goes on to caution that anything more than these moderate amounts can cause heart-related problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and irregular heartbeats. “The average drink has 100-200 calories and these often add to fat of the body, which in turn, may increase the risk of heart ailments.”

When it’s not cool
While not as potentially alarming as excessive drinking, moderate drinking comes with it own share of risks. There is a fair amount of research that says that breast cancer rates are higher among women who drink moderately. That apart, people with hepatitis C should avoid drinks completely as it may cause permanent liver damage.

Dr Deepak Chaturvedi, Physician Endocrinologist, Diabetologist, Anti-Aging specialist and Bariatrician at the Amaya Anti-aging Clinic says that even though studies may suggest that wine in moderate amounts may be beneficial on cardio metabolic health, as a physician he does not advise drinking to any patient.u00a0“All alcoholic drinks may affect one’s health, adversely. Molyobdenum content of beer has carcinogenic effects.

Besides, everyone knows about the beer belly phenomenon. Alcohol in excess affects all the organs of the body from the brain to the skin.” u00a0Surase seconds Chaturvedi and says that the association between alcohol and health has been known since ages. “Alcohol ravages almost every organ in the body and the heart is no exception. It affects the heart and circulation in many ways.”

What’s your poison?