ABOUT THAT WINE
By: David R. Pharr, Editor, Carolina Messenger, Feb. 2003
An article in the January 27 Time magazine admits what we already assumed. The heart health benefits of alcohol consumption have been hyped far beyond what studies have actually proven. Author Christine Gorman suggests that editors have pushed the story chuckling, “Ha! Here’s a vice that’s good for you.”
In fact non-alcoholic grape juice has as much benefit, and the benefit in either case is “rather modest–certainly not stronger than the effect of small daily doses of aspirin on heart health.” In fact, the article explains that studies have found that eating some nuts every day would be just as beneficial.
“They’re also unlikely to impair your judgment behind the wheel or send you on the road to rehab.” She advises that people who drink should not turn “it into some kind of medical excuse,” and that those who don’t drink have “no need to start.”