Does a glass of wine a day keep the doctor away?

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by Adam Toffan, M.Sc, NSCA-CSCS, CSEP-CEP Assistant Fitness Training and Assessment Coordinator, Recreation Services at the University of Manitoba

In honour of National Wine Day, which is May 25th this year, I want to discuss the health benefits (and risks) of having a drink every day. Having wine or any alcohol can have some great health benefits, but it is a slippery slope where increased consumption reaches a tipping point between health benefits and health risks. In this post, I want to cover both benefits and risks and what “moderation” means for men and women alike. 

Serving size

A single serving of alcohol is classified as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor. This is an estimate with alcoholic beverages being made with different potencies, but a serving is considered 12-14 grams of alcohol. 

Why is a drink a day considered healthy?

The active ingredient in alcohol is ethanol, which affects lipid levels (triglycerides and cholesterol) by increasing lipoprotein metabolism. Increasing High-Density Lipoproteins (aka “Good Cholesterol”) helps lower cardiovascular mortality risks for up to 12 cardiovascular issues, including heart attack, peripheral vascular disease and stroke, by 25-40%. Moderate alcohol consumption can also help protect against Type II Diabetes by improving your insulin sensitivity to help control blood sugar levels. 

Too much of a good thing

When consumption surpasses moderation, there are additional risks that begin to outweigh the benefits.  Heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable deaths, either via accidents, violent crimes or health risks. Alcohol has an inflammatory effect on the body, which increases the risk of many cancers. It can also damage the liver and heart. Drinking up to 4 drinks per day has been linked to increased risk of hypertension, heart attack, stroke and abnormal heart rhythms. Even moderate alcohol consumption can disrupt sleep, which has its own health risks, including mental health. Another often overlooked effect of wine and other alcohol is its effect on weight gain. Each serving of alcohol is approximately 100-150 calories, not including mixes like juice or pop. Alcohol can also make you hungry, leading to bad food choices. 

Moderation

To avoid the negative effects of having regular drinks, the key is moderation. Moderation is a term that is used loosely, even in research. It can range from 1 drink per day to up to 3-4. The latest consensus is that moderate drinking is 1-2 drinks per day for males and no more than 1 per day for females. This doesn’t mean you can save all seven drinks for the weekend either! What you drink is not as important as how you drink. Small amounts daily (one drink or less) have reduced health risk of any kind compared to drinking the same amount over the course of 1-2 days. So to maximize the health benefits of wine this wine day, keep quantity in mind!

Are you saying I should start drinking?

If you do not drink, there is no need to start drinking just for the health benefits. All the same health benefits you can get from having a glass of wine every night can also be achieved through exercise and healthy eating. So, don’t feel pressure to start drinking. However, if you enjoy a glass in the evening, there is nothing wrong with that either as long as it is in moderation. Feel free to relax with a glass of wine this National Wine Day and reap the benefits!


Sources

Bell, S., et al. (2017). “Association between clinically recorded alcohol consumption and initial presentation of 12 cardiovascular diseases: population-based cohort study using linked health records”. British Medical Journal. Vol. 356.

Cao, Y., Willett, W.C., Rimm, E.B., Stampfer, M.J., Giovannucci, E.L. (2015). “Light to moderate intake of alcohol, drinking patterns, and risk of cancer: results from two prospective US cohort studies.” British Medical Journal. Vol. 351.

Downer, M.K., Bertoia, M.L., Mukamal, K.J., Rimm, E.B., Stampfer, M.J. (2017). “Change in Alcohol Intake in Relation to Weight Change in a Cohort of US Men with 24 Years of Follow‐Up." Obesity. Vol. 25(11). Pp. 1988-1996.

Mostofsky E, Mukamal KJ, Giovannucci EL, Stampfer MJ, Rimm EB. (2016). “Key findings on alcohol consumption and a variety of health outcomes from the Nurses’ Health Study.” American journal of public health. Vol. 106(9). Pp. 1586-1591.


Comments

  1. vijay7 July 2021 at 08:24


    It's really very useful to me. Thanks for sharing with us.

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