Balancing Alcohol and Heart-Healthy Eating

_{Image Credit: News 18}

According to a recent study published in the American College of Cardiology Journal, consuming light to moderate amounts of alcohol over a long period can potentially decrease stress-related brain activity and lower the risk of developing heart disease. The research suggests that one drink per day for women and one to two drinks per day for men is associated with reduced stress signaling in the brain.

Lead author Ahmed Tawakol, a cardiologist, clarified that the study does not recommend alcohol consumption as a means to prevent heart attacks or strokes due to other harmful effects of alcohol on health. However, the research aimed to understand how light to moderate drinking may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study involved analyzing the drinking habits of over 50,000 participants and investigating the impact of alcohol consumption on brain activity in 754 adults who had previously undergone brain imaging. The results showed that individuals who consumed one to fourteen drinks per week had a lower risk of heart attack or stroke compared to those who had no more than one drink per week.

The brain imaging findings revealed that light to moderate drinkers exhibited lower stress signaling in the amygdala, a brain region associated with stress responses. Furthermore, individuals with a history of anxiety experienced nearly twice as much cardiac protection from light to moderate drinking.

The study highlights the importance of finding alternative stress relief methods and emphasizes that any amount of alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer. Consuming more than 14 drinks per week has been linked to a higher incidence of heart attacks and a decline in brain activity.

The researchers caution against interpreting the findings as an endorsement for increased alcohol consumption, as the risk of cancer offsets any potential cardiovascular benefits. The study serves as a reminder that maintaining overall health and well-being involves considering multiple factors and adopting a balanced approach.

Re-reported from the story originally published in News 18