The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report suggesting that recent studies touting the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption may be inaccurate.
While not dismissing the possibility that moderate drinking could help reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks, CDC said that the research is far from conclusive.
"We're feeling the pendulum has swung way too far and Americans are getting sort of the wrong idea" on alcohol, the study's lead author, Dr. Tim Naimi, told the Associated Press. "The science around moderate drinking is very murky."
What makes the research so murky, the CDC said, is the fact that moderate drinkers tend to live lifestyles that help their chances of avoiding certain diseases – they tend to be more active, better educated, don’t smoke, and have more money and therefore better healthcare. They also are more likely to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail in the evening…but it is debatable whether the alcohol is a determining factor in their better health.
While not dismissing the possibility that moderate drinking could help reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks, CDC said that the research is far from conclusive.
"We're feeling the pendulum has swung way too far and Americans are getting sort of the wrong idea" on alcohol, the study's lead author, Dr. Tim Naimi, told the Associated Press. "The science around moderate drinking is very murky."
What makes the research so murky, the CDC said, is the fact that moderate drinkers tend to live lifestyles that help their chances of avoiding certain diseases – they tend to be more active, better educated, don’t smoke, and have more money and therefore better healthcare. They also are more likely to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail in the evening…but it is debatable whether the alcohol is a determining factor in their better health.
- KC's View:
- On the other hand, that glass of wine probably doesn’t hurt. And it certainly helps us to relax at the end of a long day.
