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If I drink alcohol in right amount will it increases our lifespan?

Discussion in 'Alcohol' started by Andrew2310, Apr 21, 2016.

  1. Andrew2310

    Andrew2310 Member

    Some studies have shown that if alcohol is taken in a right amount, it increases our lifespan? Is it true?
  2. darkrebelchild

    darkrebelchild Community Champion

    It is one of the medical anomalies that nobody can really explain. Based on some medical research, it is claimed that moderate drinkers tend to live longer than those who do not drink at all.

    So I guess it is left to the individual; though there are other things we consume that helps increase our lifespan like fruits, vegetables and nuts. If alcohol is a must, then no one can judge your decision.
    Andrew2310 likes this.
  3. Mara

    Mara Community Champion

    Hmm...that claim has to be backed up by a lot of research before I'd believe it. Most studies are inconclusive and besides, there are a lot of factors that affect the lifespan of a person, like food intake, lifestyle, not just alcohol consumption.

    I believe that there has to be a balance in everything because anything in excess, not matter how good it is for us, will in turn be bad.
    Andrew2310 likes this.
  4. Andrew2310

    Andrew2310 Member

    Thanks Guys For sharing your thoughts.....I wanted to know this also that, Are moderate drinkers, specially who drinks wine are at a lower risk of having heart disease?
  5. LoveEcho

    LoveEcho Community Champion

    I believe that study is about drinking red wine and having a lower risk of developing heart disease. But, maybe there's another one that's drinking in general.
  6. ejorman1010

    ejorman1010 Senior Contributor

    There are studies showing people that have a cup of wine a day live longer on average. There are studies showing the benefits of red wine on heart health. They believe it is the resveratrol in the wine from the grapes. It is also just the idea that alcohol does help you relax and people that drink wine often do it in social situations. This means that they are maintaining healthy social relationships and keeping stress down.
  7. henry

    henry Community Champion

    Well, that may be true, but the trouble with that is, that the right amount of alcohol for us drinkers is nowhere near the amount of alcohol prescribed by the medical foundation. So, not drinking any amount at all is the healthiest choice for us.
    Andrew2310 likes this.
  8. Bozz

    Bozz Active Contributor

    If it's because of some of the minerals and nutrients available, there are better sources for these.
    I don't think it's worth having alcohol everyday when there are safer and cheaper alternatives.
  9. GenevB

    GenevB Community Champion

    Same thing can be said by some smokers, that they tend to live longer, now what, we shall imply that if you smoke the right amount of cigarettes it increases your life span? This has been one of the biggest misconception about alcohol through the years, that when used in the right amount, it can be healthy, no, alcohol can never be a healthy alternative and let me explain, alcohol might have some good properties, like beer which is good for your kidneys when taken with moderation, but think about me giving you 1$ and then stealing you 3$, that is exactly the same way that alcohol works, it increases your life span, but the it decreases it more with its bad properties.
    Andrew2310 likes this.
  10. xTinx

    xTinx Community Champion

    Not all alcohols have medicinal value. Perhaps you're talking about red wine? Red wine can actually help people with heart defects and keep their pulses running at a healthy pace. However, even if it's medically advantageous in certain aspects, it's not advisable to consume too much of it. Other types of alcohol are not good for you but if you want to occasionally have fun and socialize with friends and strangers, then there's no harm there. Moderation is all there is to it. Lifespan basically depends on luck, genetic factors and overall way of life.
    Andrew2310 likes this.
  11. Coolkidhere

    Coolkidhere Community Champion

    There has been studies that indicate that the consumption of wine in moderation can reduce the risk for having heart attacks or other heart conditions. With alcohol, the same goes, with moderation, it can have some positive effects like longevity of life. However, keep in mind that it should be in moderation, not more than a glass a day.

    Now, you also need to keep in mind that people have different genes, which could also contribute to the effectivity of this finding. Plus, the fact that some people can get addicted to alcohol and wine as well. And lastly, the things you do, your lifestyle can also have an effect in the longevity of your life.

    So with these risks, is it worth is to drink alcohol for its few "positive" effects? I mean, for me, I would rather invest my time and effort in exercising and eating healthily. At least, when you exercise and eat healthy, you don't have the risks of the other bad effects of alcohol. Drinking alcohol just for the sake of its ability to lengthen life or protect you from some heart diseases, I don't know... Especially with people who have addictive personalities, it just has that added risk.
    Mara likes this.
  12. puneeth8994

    puneeth8994 Active Contributor

    Well, this is where moderation comes into the picture but I'm pretty sure no one stops at one glass of scotch.
    Andrew2310 likes this.
  13. Andrew2310

    Andrew2310 Member

  14. Adrianna

    Adrianna Community Champion

    I doubt it. This just sounds like propaganda to make the industry sound like it's good for you. It's not. There is no right about. This subscription to "a little bits ok", a little bit of this a little bit of that adds up to a lot of what's not ok. People don't keep track of that little bit. Turns into more than that amount that is ok for you. So I would say that it's better not to.
  15. Eleanor

    Eleanor Member

    This is very accurate , it's important to do things in moderation, because even a good thing can be harmful in large doses, I think most of us in this forum have come to terms with that notion.
    Let's also take into consideration the fact that not everyone has a healthy fully-functional liver. One glass of wine propably won't do much to a fully functional liver, but it can have some nasty effects on livers that have been chronicaly damaged by alcohol-induced hepatitis and cirrosis.

    For some alcoholics in recovery, one glass of wine might also be triggering repressed desires for consumption and I've seen it often end up in binge drinking, just like binge eating after prolonged fasting. This might be worse if one is used to drinking alcohol in one go and habitualy drink in order to get "wasted", whereas when is capable of sipping wine really slowly the liver has an easier time processing the alcohol and the feeling of satisfaction is prolonged.

    If anyone wishes to try this new and untested wine hypothesis on their own, I would advise they do it with utter caution; don't let an untested theory trample all over your recovery routine.
  16. Rainman

    Rainman Community Champion

    Why take unnecessary risks? It's easy to believe that unlike other people who drink excessively you'll be different, odds are you won't be that different. So drink not believing that you'll live longer, there's a high likelihood that alcoholism will shorten your life span should you be unable to drink in moderation.
    kassie1234 likes this.
  17. Tremmie

    Tremmie Community Champion

    I think that would only apply to red wine, to the good quality one that is filled with all the good antioxidants. And only if you are a guy, because women don't process alcohol like men do... Women shouldn't drink even small amounts of it.
  18. djolem

    djolem Senior Contributor

    I am not sure about our lifespan but it may improve our general health. I say it like this because you can do it and then get hit by a car and die so the terminology is not right :) I heard that the good home brew red wine is very good for our health. Of course it has to be made from organic grape and you should be drinking a glass or two in a day.
  19. kassie1234

    kassie1234 Community Champion

    This is basically my stance on it. I think there's many more simple ways to increase your life span. Eat well, exercise regularly, avoid substances like tobacco. The jury seems to be out on the alcohol side of things - some studies do seem to indicate that things like red wine are beneficial in small doses, but it's exactly a question of "how much is too much" at that point. I'll stick to green tea over red wine!!
  20. Zambiayum

    Zambiayum Member

    Thanks for sharing.