Toast to your Good Health

Want to cut your risk of heart disease in half? In addition to a regular routine of exercise, a longitudinal study conducted over 20 years with 12,000 participants provides evidence that you should also enjoy moderate amounts of wine. Though the benefits of wine have always been touted as good for your heart, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, recently wrote up an informative article further clarifying the findings of the study and how wine can help cut cardiovascular risks. Led by Dr. Morten Gronbaek of Denmark’s National Institute of Public Health, the research separated participants into four groups: drinking exercisers, drinking non-exercisers, non- drinking exercisers, and non-drinking non-exercisers. Through this methodology, the authors were able to tease out benefits for those who exercised only as well as for those who drank wine or other types of alcohol only. Surprisingly to some, the non-exercising drinkers had a 30% reduced risk of heart disease. While some may conclude that exercise isn’t necessary, it’s important to note that the group with the least risk of heart disease participated in both exercise and drinking – and the alcohol drinking occurred in moderate amounts: 1 glass per day for women, 1-2 glasses per day for men. So stick with your diet and exercise plan, then toast to your good health with a drink!

Source:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1703763_1703764_1...