drink alcohol?

[whatevergirl]

I’m always suspicious around people who say they don’t drink. I’d be equally suspicious about someone who says they never eat dessert.

I drink a few beers on the weekend, and a beer or two after dinner during the week.

Moderate alcohol consumption is defined, for women, as 1-2 drinks per day. Moderate alcohol consumption, for men, is defined as 2-3 drinks per day. That seems to be higher than what most people are posting here, more than likely because most posters are in America - a country with a history of tea-totaling. When one consumes within those defined rates, there is a significant boost in overall health (particularly for the heart). Consuming less than that is not linked to any health benefits, and in some cases is actually linked to worsened health. Moral of the story: Drink up!

Depends on the alcohol…if someone say is drinking 2 to 3 margaritas per night…ouch! They are going to be hurting, plus alcohol has a lot of calories. When people are trying to lose weight, if they like to drink…that’s one of the first things to be cut. I can’t imagine drinking 2 to 3 drinks every day?? haha I would not be able to function, personally. I think wine–one glass per day–is what is defined as having the most health benefits. The verdict is out on beer though.

 

[duskyjewel]

On a more strictly Catholic note, I have also read that our Holy Father Benedict XVI is a good Bavarian who would enjoy a nice strong beer while sitting in front of a fire and chatting with friends.

Just for a laugh, my dad sent me these right after Pope Benedict was elected. The subject line was, “Changes made by new German Pope.”

 

[dulcissima]

I’m always suspicious of people who say they don’t drink. I’d be equally suspicious about someone who says they never eat dessert.

I drink a few beers on the weekend, and a beer or two after dinner during the week.

Moderate alcohol consumption is defined, for women, as 1-2 drinks per day. Moderate alcohol consumption, for men, is defined as 2-3 drinks per day. That seems to be higher than what most people are posting here, more than likely because most posters are in America - a country with a history of tea-totaling. When one consumes within those defined rates, there is a significant boost in overall health (particularly for the heart). Consuming less than that is not linked to any health benefits, and in some cases is actually linked to worsened health. Moral of the story: Drink up!

It’s just that I am the mom of 4 kids…I can’t afford to be that relaxed all the time, health benefits or not! (I can feel the effects from just one drink)

 

[He_Man]

My “policy” is drinking alcohol is fine in moderation. Being Drunk is a sin, so the key is to stop before one becomes drunk. It’s kind of like gluttony. Eating is fine, overeating is a sin.

That’s fine. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Yeap

What was the first miracle of Jesus? Hint: It happened at a wedding

Agree with all of this.

 

[He_Man]

I drinky maybe 1 to 2 drinks a week, usually beer, although I like wine and other drinks. I think alcohol is a good thing in moderation.

Were you drinking when you posted??

 

[dulcissima]

Were you drinking when you posted??

Just coffee, really…

 

[Em_in_FL]

Just coffee, really…

IRISH Coffee???

 

[nobeerinheaven]

. I can’t imagine drinking 2 to 3 drinks every day?? haha I would not be able to function, personally. I think wine–one glass per day–is what is defined as having the most health benefits. The verdict is out on beer though.

“One drink” means (1) 5 oz glass of wine; (1) 1.5 oz shot of liquor; or (1) 12 oz beer. Most medical researchers do not see any significant health benefits of one type of alcohol over another, it is the alcohol itself which helps the body. However, recent research suggests beer may be highest of all in health benefits (I had a link for a while, but I cannot find it now. The hops are high in antioxidants, I believe, and the yeast is high in some other vitamins).

Some fun facts for you, from Alcohol Problems and Solutions

A Harvard study found the risk of death from all causes to be 21% to 28% lower among men who drank alcohol moderately, compared to abstainers.

A large-scale study in China found that middle-aged men who drank moderately had a nearly 20% lower overall mortality compared to abstainers.

Harvard’s Nurses’ Health Study of over 85,000 women found reduced mortality among moderate drinkers.

A British analysis of 12,000 male physicians found that moderate drinkers had the lowest risk of death from all causes during the 13 year study.

A large study of about 88,000 people conducted over a period of ten years found that moderate drinkers were about 27% less likely to die during the period than were either abstainers or heavy drinkers. The superior longevity was largely due to a reduction of such diseases as coronary heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases.

A large study funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that moderate drinking increased the length of life by about 3% among white males.

A twelve year long prospective study of over 200,000 men found that subjects who had consumed alcohol in moderation were less likely to die than those who abstained from alcohol.

A study of more than 40,000 people by the Cancer Research Center in Honolulu found that "persons with moderate alcohol intake appear to have a significantly lower risk of dying than nondrinkers.”

An analysis of the 89,299 men in the Physicians’ Health Study over a period of five and one-half years found that those who drink alcohol in moderation tend to live longer than those who either abstain or drink heavily.

An Italian study of 1,536 men aged 45-65 found that about two (2) years of life were gained by moderate drinkers (1-4 drinks per day) in comparison with occasional and heavy drinkers.

A study of 2,487 adults aged 70-79 years, who were followed for an average period of over five and one-half years, found that all-cause mortality was significantly lower in light to moderate drinkers than in abstainers or occasional drinkers (those who drank <1 drink per week).

A nation-wide survey in the U.S. revealed that daily moderate drinkers experienced significantly less acute hospitalization.

A nine year study of predictors of good health found moderate alcohol consumption to be associated with the most favorable health scores.

A nation-wide Canadian study found moderate drinkers who consumed alcohol daily to have 15% less disability than the general population.

A Dutch study found that moderate drinkers under stress were less likely to be absent from work than were either abstainers or heavy drinkers.

The website continues for several more pages, but the verdict is out: consuming “in moderation” is very good for people.

 

[nobeerinheaven]

Just a bit more

What is moderation?

Medical researchers generally describe moderation as one to three drinks per day. It appears that consuming less than about half a drink per day is associated with only very small health benefits. Four or five drinks may be moderate for large individuals but excessive for small or light people. Because of their generally smaller size and other biological differences, the typical woman should generally consume 25 to 30 percent less than the average man. And, of course, recovering alcoholics, those with any adverse reactions to alcohol, and those advised against drinking by their physicians should abstain.

A drink is a 12 ounce can or bottle of beer, a five ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor (either straight or in a mixed drink).

Harvard’s Healthy Eating Pyramid, produced by the Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating, was co-developed by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health. It is based on the best available Harvard Food Pyramidscientific knowledge and recommends drinking alcohol in moderation (unless there is a good reason to abstain).

Drinking patterns appear to be as important as the amounts consumed. “The key to healthy, moderate consumption is a regular, one to three drinks per day pattern.” However, drinking a “weeks worth” of alcohol over a period of a few hours would be unhealthful, even dangerous, and clearly to be avoided.

All of the many health benefits of drinking apply only to moderate consumption - - never to heavy drinking. To the contrary, heavy drinking is associated with reduced longevity and increased risk of a diversity of diseases. Unfortunately, there really can be too much of a good thing.

Like I said, Drink Up!

 

[dulcissima]

“One drink” means (1) 5 oz glass of wine; (1) 1 oz shot of liquor; or (1) 12 oz beer. Most medical researchers do not see any significant health benefits of one type of alcohol over another, it is the alcohol itself which helps the body. However, recent research suggests beer may be highest of all in health benefits (I had a link for a while, but I cannot find it now. The hops are high in antioxidants, I believe, and the yeast is high in some other vitamins).

Beer is so filling though. One drink really lasts for me if it is beer. Wine I would be fine with a glass or two, same with liquor. And since I am by myself now, drinking on my own just doesn’t have the same appeal having a drink with someone. I think the health benefits are great, but I don’t think anyone needs to start drinking or start drinking more just because of them.

 

[Nechasin]

I’m always suspicious of people who say they don’t drink. I’d be equally suspicious about someone who says they never eat dessert.

I drink a few beers on the weekend, and a beer or two after dinner during the week.

Moderate alcohol consumption is defined, for women, as 1-2 drinks per day. Moderate alcohol consumption, for men, is defined as 2-3 drinks per day. That seems to be higher than what most people are posting here, more than likely because most posters are in America - a country with a history of tea-totaling. When one consumes within those defined rates, there is a significant boost in overall health (particularly for the heart). Consuming less than that is not linked to any health benefits, and in some cases is actually linked to worsened health. Moral of the story: Drink up!

I’m in the 2 beers / night group. Although when I admit that, people’s eyebrows usually raise up. I will usually have 1 with dinner, and a second after the kids are in bed. Ocassionally, I will have more if I’m watching a ball game on TV. I will also give my kids a sip if they ask, but they usually don’t ask when I’m drinking beer because they don’t like it.

My FIL was an alcoholic, so my dw did not have a positive experience growing up with alcohol. I want my kids to know about alcohol and see that it is not evil or something that should be hidden.

 

[whatevergirl]

“One drink” means (1) 5 oz glass of wine; (1) 1.5 oz shot of liquor; or (1) 12 oz beer. Most medical researchers do not see any significant health benefits of one type of alcohol over another, it is the alcohol itself which helps the body. However, recent research suggests beer may be highest of all in health benefits (I had a link for a while, but I cannot find it now. The hops are high in antioxidants, I believe, and the yeast is high in some other vitamins).

Some fun facts for you, from Alcohol Problems and Solutions

The website continues for several more pages, but the verdict is out: consuming “in moderation” is very good for people.

what?? beer has antioxidants? I didn’t know that! Hmmm…too bad I’m not a beer fan, but maybe this is why my husband is rarely sick!

 

[whatevergirl]

Just a bit more

What is moderation?

Like I said, Drink Up!

It’s interesting the bolded part–I watched a mystery diagnosis show recently, and it highlighted a woman who hardly ever drank, but she was going through a bad time in her life, and would binge drink for a weekend, and then wouldn’t drink for a few weeks…and then would binge again on the weekend…and after several months of this–she DIED. Her liver was destroyed just from binge drinking! That just really shocked me.

 

[Katie1723]

I have a bottle of white zinfandel just beckoning me everytime I walk by the 'frig.
Kathy

 

[whatevergirl]

nobeerinheaven…since you like to research…hint hint …what red wines are the best to drink for heart health?

 

[SeekerJen]

I’m in the 2 beers / night group. Although when I admit that, people’s eyebrows usually raise up. I will usually have 1 with dinner, and a second after the kids are in bed. Ocassionally, I will have more if I’m watching a ball game on TV. I will also give my kids a sip if they ask, but they usually don’t ask when I’m drinking beer because they don’t like it.

My FIL was an alcoholic, so my dw did not have a positive experience growing up with alcohol. I want my kids to know about alcohol and see that it is not evil or something that should be hidden.

My dad and my husband both have a beer per night. On a Saturday, my husband might have one with dinner and another later on. It’s no biggie. Both enjoy the taste of beer and neither have alcohol problems. In fact, my dad started up this beer/day regimen a few years ago. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels run in his family and he’s no exception. On his first visit to the doctor after starting up the beer treatment, his doctor asked him what he’d been doing differently, as his test results indicated something. My dad responded that he’d started having a beer with dinner every night, and the doctor told him to keep it up, his tests were the best they’d been in years.

I don’t drink often because I’m a lightweight and it makes me sleepy. But right now I’m splitting a big bottle of a favorite beer with DH. Yum.

 

[CarrieH]

It’s all about moderation. I drank fairly regularly until just recently when I quit on account of a medical issue, and if it weren’t for that, I’d be enjoying a nice glass of wine this very moment.

 

[nobeerinheaven]

nobeerinheaven…since you like to research…hint hint …what red wines are the best to drink for heart health?

I really don’t think the variety matters. The differences in nutrition between the slightly different grape varieties are marginal; usually they just produce different tastes, but have the same nutritional contribution. The major benefit is the alcohol itself, so in theory a high end glass of red wine will have approximately the same health benefit as moonshine or ever-clear (i.e. pure ethyl alcohol). Of course, the former *tastes *much better than the latter.

 

[silentdeb]

Just for a laugh, my dad sent me these right after Pope Benedict was elected. The subject line was, “Changes made by new German Pope.”

HOWL! Oh, that is priceless … I have a friend I MUST send these to, thank you!

 

[CHCatholic]

Some people say to me at work when we’re have a post-closing beer…“I thought you’re Catholic, how come you’re drinking”
I respond with…
“We have the Irish, that alone should show you we drink…not to mention the Poles, Italians, the Good part of Germany, and France”

I’m of British and French blood, so even though I’m skinny I have a ridiculous tolerance, its a pretyt subjective subject.

I think drunkeness is when it inhibits your conscience, among other things. But I was at a party a couple months back, had some beers, all my friends said I was drunk, and while it did make me a little more outgoing and cheerful, I was still able to have a two hour discussion with a co-worker about why I’m Catholic
My mom says that it changed my mood so its wrong…but sleep changes my mood, coffee changes my mood, hockey changes my mood…etc.

My views at least.