A new study on alcohol disproves the notion that a small amount of alcoholic drinks a day prevents heart disease and promotes longevity. About 400,000 genetic and medical data were analyzed by scientists in the United Kingdom last year and they showed that low alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of disease.
A glass of wine a day for women or a glass and a half for men can even increase the risk of death, according to a medical journal. Jama Open Networkcited New York Post.
“This study discourages many who thought moderate drinking was healthy,” said Robert Dupont, psychiatrist and first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Canada.
The belief that an alcoholic drink a day benefits health and prevents a number of diseases originated in France. But a recent report found that most of this investigation was funded by the alcohol sector, and 13,500 fake tests were done.
“Wine is considered to be a special drink that somehow has magical properties,” said Tim Stockwell, author of the new study and professor of psychology at the University of Victoria in Canada. “It was just a publicity stunt for the wine industry three decades ago,” he added.
The “meta-analysis” concluded that previous studies that contrasted alcohol consumption with the risk of death from “all causes” including heart disease, cancer, infections, and car accidents had design flaws because they were not taken into account. factors that may affect the result, such as age, gender, economic status, lifestyle, eating habits or weight.
There was also no concern for distancing people who stopped drinking alcohol for personal or health reasons.
“Those who abstain from alcohol are often older adults who have quit drinking because their health was poor,” the study author said, adding that “the ability to drink is a sign that you are still healthy, not because of this. There are many ways these studies draw false conclusions that are misinterpreted to show that alcohol is good for you.”
Tim Stockwell concluded from his study that drinking alcohol, even in moderation, does not provide long-term health benefits. “It’s a moot point because people like to drink,” he says.
According to the World Heart Federation’s January 2022 report, “Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is bad for the heart,” which warns that any level of alcohol consumption can lead to the loss of healthy lives.