Although past research suggests that drinking a glass or two of wine a day may have some heart benefits, new findings suggest that those studies were flawed.
Risks Outweigh the Benefits
There is some evidence that heavier drinking provides heart protection -- alcoholics have relatively 'clean' arteries -- but the other health risks of heavy drinking outweigh the benefits.
Early observations in the 1970s and 1980s seemed to indicate a 20 to 25 percent reduction in heart disease risk linked to light drinking. However, the way those studies were carried out did not allow researchers to say with certainty that the findings could not be due to factors other than alcohol consumption.
Diet, Exercise, Quit Smoking
The British Heart Foundation responded to the new evidence by saying that their advice remained the same: "... the best way to reduce the risk of heart disease is to quit smoking if you smoke, increase levels of physical activity and eat a healthy balanced diet."
