Alcohol has been a part of human life for thousands of years. In fact, we’ve been fermenting and brewing for over 9000 years! The oldest example of a human-made alcoholic beverage to date was found in pottery jars excavated from the Neolithic village of Jiahu in the Henan province, China, which dates back to around 7000BC. Still, we know from several sources that the practice existed well before that. Many of the earliest alcoholic beverages were developed as medicinal remedies, and alcohol is still used for this purpose today.
Possible Benefits of Alcohol
There have been many studies on the possible health effects of drinking alcohol. Although we know that drinking to excess is not good for us, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that sensible, moderate drinking can have several benefits for our health. These include:
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Possible reduced risk of ischemic stroke
- Potentially reduced risk of diabetes
- Potentially reduced risk of dementia
- Reduced risk of gallstones
- May increase life expectancy
- Can improve libido
Stay Safe While Drinking Alcohol
Because alcohol is intoxicating, it’s essential to take steps to stay safe while drinking. Here are some tips:
- Never drink to excess
- Don’t drive after drinking
- Avoid drinking alcohol if you’re pregnant
- Don’t drink if your doctor advises against it
- Certain medications interact with alcohol; always check the label
- If you feel like you have a problem with alcohol, seek professional help
Enjoy Good Health
The medical and scientific industries are constantly striving to increase our quality of life, conducting studies, and developing treatments. Companies such as Antaros Medical provide an invaluable service, helping us understand our choices, their consequences, and their effects on our health. Scientific studies suggest that moderate drinking could be good for us. But what do we mean by ‘moderate’? For healthy adults, government guidelines define moderate drinking as up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. One drink could be:
- Beer: 12 fluid ounces
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces
- Distilled spirits (80 proof): 1.5 fluid ounces
Drinking a glass of wine or beer with food is the ideal way to enjoy alcohol. It is in this setting that most of the proposed health benefits have been found. As well as tasting delicious together, enjoying alcohol with food ensures that the effects are balanced and are not overwhelming for the body.