Posted on 08/30/2010 9:01:55 AM PDT by Frenchtown Dan
One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don't drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.
But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that - for reasons that aren't entirely clear - abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers' mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers. (See pictures of booze under a microscope.)
Moderate drinking, which is defined as one to three drinks per day, is associated with the lowest mortality rates in alcohol studies. Moderate alcohol use (especially when the beverage of choice is red wine) is thought to improve heart health, circulation and sociability, which can be important because people who are isolated don't have as many family members and friends who can notice and help treat health problems.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Pickling!
Yeah, sure. That has to explain why my alcoholic youngest brother died at age 50. No problem with moderate drinking but I’ve known too many dead or dying alcoholics.
In which case I should be around for a long, long time.
Just reading this makes me thirsty.
Woo Hoo!
I’ll drink to that!
Vindication!
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” ~ Benjamin Franklin
“sharia law is proof that allah hates us and wants us to be miserable.” ~ nully
I'd gladly sacrifice a few extra years of hell, in exchange for the way of life I have now.
Now theres a thought.
Two of my favorite lines!
Guinness = the drink of champions!
+---------ShinerCare---------+
Just don’t drink and drive, or hunt while intoxicated, and you won’t have to worry about killing anyone.
Forget about Hell, that’s not just for a few years, that’s for eternity.
Cheers!
“Guinness is good for you”
Happy Days (clink)!!
The Bible says, a little wine for your stomach’s sake.
Sorry about your brother - the two heaviest drinkers I’ve known died in their late 40’s. Fatal liver damage.
And to you (clink)!
My favorite drinks are smoky Islay malts like Caol Ila and Laphroaig, and I have one drink nearly every day.
A drink every few days, or maybe even 1 a day helps relieve stress, prevent depression, etc. These other ailments all cause hypertension, heart disease, and possibly even cancer.
Tea-totalling Mormons, do however, live long as a group, despite higher incidence of depression.
LOL. And we all know how much fun it is to be around someone who is three sheets to the wind. I find this study hard to believe. What is the definition of a "heavy drinker"? Does that include hard core alcoholics? If so it isn't right. A long period of "heavy" drinking really beats up the body. Alcohol, while good in moderation, ultimately is a poison.
A glass of red wine a day. It’s a little pricey, but man is it relaxing in the evening.
Shiners is a pretty good brew, havn’t had any in years, wish I could buy some around these parts.
Pickles last longer than cucumbers.
Yippeeeeeeeeee!!!!
“Guinness = the drink of champions!”
The day after Passover, my wife and I drink a Guinness (or a black and tan for her, and I have the rest of her Bass), a Boddingtons Pub ale, and a split of Moet Chandon Champagne (typically in reverse order of what I listed).
You know, I agree with you.
I sometimes don’t drink for days, other days a couple of beers, and some days I don’t count.
But all in all, I cannot believe that constant heavy drinking is good for anyone. Ans as far as that goes, I don’t think that doing anything to extreme is good either.
“Moderate alcohol use (especially when the beverage of choice is red wine) is thought to improve heart health, circulation and sociability”
Strangely, it results in my wife and I having daughters.
It may be the death of us, yet.
When my mother was pregnant with me in 1950, she drank a bottle or two of Guinness or other dark beer almost every day. She said it helped her a lot, and she didn’t get morning sickness like she did with my older sister.
I like your beverage menu!
They sure do, and so do green tomatoes!
Good news!!!
Do I get bonus years if I drink a lot more?
Yes, drinking moderately is not harmful to anyone. This “not a single drop of alcohol from sex to the delivery room” is a recent liberal belief, and it is just another way to torture us.
Only if you pass the jug around.
Me too (staring at clock ...)
Oh what the hell, it's close enough to 12:00, time for a Blue Moon!
Phooey!
I have to wait until I get home. Won’t be till 5:00, and I could use a cold one.
I hate Mondays!
And they are very good at torture, aren’t they!
“Yeah, sure. That has to explain why my alcoholic youngest brother died at age 50. No problem with moderate drinking but I?ve known too many dead or dying alcoholics.”
Yep. How many 85 year old hardcore drunks do you know? Alcohol kills the mind, body, and spirit.
There is such a thing as being a social drinker. It is possible to go out and drink just enough to be more talkative and not be three sheets. There is a definite line. And there is no hard and fast rule for anyone. Lots of things can go into how much is too much. What you are drinking, mood, demeanor in general. Some people can drink a ton and just start talking to everyone, some people drink and punch windows.
Or handle firearms in any manner while drunk.
I called in sick today. Not that I really am, but working 65 hours last week and over the weekend really wiped me out. Time to re-charge.
And thank God I live in CST, where I don't have to feel guilty popping my 2nd beer at 11:39am. After this one, I'm going to take a nap.
No problem, ladies!
I’ll opt for the liquor!
Franklin disliked beer and mocked beer drinkers. The real quote concerned wine.
But the message is the same.
In all things, moderation.
I’m sure there were no men lined up waiting to kiss any of those sour faced looking women, with or without booze.
Can I get that in writing from each of you ladies?
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