Heart Health and Drinking

Nov. 1 —  The American College of Cardiology recently published results of a new study showing how a healthy lifestyle, including moderate alcohol consumption, reduces heart attack risk.

The study involved more than 20,000 Swedish men and the five key lifestyle behaviors for low risk were a healthy diet; no smoking; physical activity; no abdominal fat and moderate alcohol consumption (one to two standard drinks).  There was no differentiation made between wine, spirits or beer.

The researchers found that each lifestyle factor was clearly measurable in reducing the risk of a heart attack.  Diet measured 18%; moderate drinking was 11%; no smoking was 36%; physical activity was 3% and low abdominal fat was 12%.

A combination of a healthy diet and moderate alcohol consumption actually led to 35% lower risk when compared against subjects who practiced neither.  The men in the study that practiced all five low-risk behaviors had 86% lower risk of having a heart attack.

By the way, the Federal 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderate drinking as consuming up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.  A standard drink is defined as 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol) distilled spirits, 5 fluid ounces of wine (12% alcohol) or 12 fluid ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol).  Each of these standard drinks contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol.