Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

What are some benefits of drinking alcohol?

Answer

Moderate consumption of alcohol has been found to reduce 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.

01/14/99

Reid K. Hester, Ph.D.
Director, Research Division
Behavior Therapy Associates
3810 Osuna Rd NE Suite 1
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505.345.6100 ph
505.342.2454 fax
Behavioral Self-control Program for Windows