A Beer a Day Keeps the Blues Away, but Moderation Is Key – RedState

My late father, the wisest man who ever lived, loved to repeat an old admonition: “Moderation in all things.” Well, I liked to retort to Barry Goldwater’s famous saying: “Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice.” And moderation in the pursuit of justice is not a virtue. » But dad was of course not talking about freedom and justice.

Moderation is a good idea when it comes to things like adult beverages. But it turns out that beer, consumed in moderation, can actually be good for the heart. Who knew?

A few research suggests that moderate beer consumption may promote heart health, particularly by increasing good cholesterol in the blood, says Destini Moody, RD, founder of The Athlete’s Dietitian and expert on the panel of Review of Garage Gym. By the way, moderate alcohol consumption is defined by the CDC as one drink per day or less for women and two drinks per day or less for men.

Well, that definition from the CDC leaves me wondering. I don’t drink much beer these days, not so much because of the alcohol, but more because of the carbs; a guy my age needs to watch his waistline. I drink two beers – no more, no less – with my lunch at the lodge every week. Other than that and a sniff or two of whiskey before bed, that’s about my limit these days.

Here’s the kicker:

Drinking beer regularly can be part of a balanced lifestyle, but moderation is key, says registered dietitian René Ficek, RD, owner of Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating. “Consuming beer in moderation can fit into a healthy diet, but daily consumption is not recommended for everyone, especially those with certain medical conditions or those taking medications that interact with alcohol,” she says.

But what about our mental health? There is an apocryphal quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, which states: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” » A cold glass of Alaskan Amber makes me happy. Isn’t that also good for your health?

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Of course, wine also has heart benefits, if it’s your drink of choice.

Moderate wine consumption as part of a Mediterranean diet has been associated with several cardiovascular benefits, despite ongoing debate about the overall health benefits of wine and alcohol consumption in general.

The research team decided to examine the relationship between wine and overall health, both in terms of biological and chronological age.

Here’s what they found:

Men who consumed wine at levels consistent with the Mediterranean diet (around 125 to 500 milliliters per day) showed slower biological aging than abstainers.

The strongest effect of reducing biological aging was seen after about one to two drinks, or about 0.34 years.

Biological aging is one thing. Depriving yourself of something you enjoy in moderation is another.

Many people like to drink a glass of beer or wine from time to time, or have a good whiskey. Like a good cigar, these are among the most beautiful things in life, to be enjoyed in moderation. Like cigars, they can be harmful if taken to extremes. But I always thought that if the pleasure of drinking a beer or two every now and then could shorten my life by 0.34 years, then I would continue to enjoy these beers. After all, life too is something to enjoy.

Oh, and I’ll decide what “moderation” is for me. Not some reprimand from the CDC.

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