Sip your way to a hardy heart Yet again, a study proves the heart benefits of alcohol consumption… A six-year study of over 11,700 men (ironically, they were professionals in the health-care field) previously diagnosed with hypertension found that those who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol - 1 to 2 drinks daily - enjoyed an 30% reduction in adjusted risk of fatal heart attack during the 16 years of study and follow-up. But how's this for encouraging: Subject men who consumed 3-4 drinks per day (50 grams of alcohol or more) lowered their risk by as much as 60 PERCENT, all other factors being equal… The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and reported in the New York Times, also documented reductions in the risk of non-fatal heart attacks among those who drank moderately. Further, the research made no distinction in the type of alcohol consumed. This squares with what I've seen proven before - that alcohol itself is what's beneficial, more so than nutrients in the hops or barley, or even the antioxidants in red wine. So what are you waiting for: Hoist a glass of what you will and toast those who studied what I already knew - and to those who had the guts to report it! | 
