Drinking wine instead of beer or spirits is healthier and could cut risk of death, study suggests. Quaffing wine rather than drinking beer or spirits is healthier and can reduce your risk of death, a study has found.
Liver Health
A 2015 study on nearly 56,000 participants found that wine consumption was linked to a lower risk of cirrhosis than consumption of beer or spirits. Around the same time, another study linked ellagic acid, an antioxidant commonly found in (you guessed it) red wine, with liver health.
In terms of Alcohol by Volume, spirits are much stronger than other alcoholic drinks like wine or beer. Standard spirits are often around 35-40% Alcohol by Volume (ABV). This means that they contain 35-40% of pure alcohol. In comparison, a pint of beer is often around 5% ABV, and a glass of wine 11%.
Is beer or wine safer to drink than liquor? No. One 12-ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. It is the amount of alcohol consumed that affects a person most, not the type of alcoholic drink.
Data synthesis and conclusions: Both clinical and experimental evidence suggest that red wine does indeed offer a greater protection to health than other alcoholic beverages. This protection has been attributed to grape-derived antioxidant polyphenolic compounds found particularly in red wine.
However, if you are going to drink, having red wine in moderation is a healthier choice than other alcoholic drinks. This is due to its high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to better heart and gut health.
Unfortunately, there is no type of alcohol that is easier on your liver. Overall, the amount you drink is what matters. At the end of the day, the damaging ingredient in alcohol is "ethanol" and all alcoholic drinks contain it.
Earlier this year, a Danish study showed that wine drinkers were 70% less likely to develop cirrhosis than those who drank beer or liquor. Researchers said they thought that wine's antioxidant properties might somehow work to reduce the ill effects on the liver caused by the beverage's alcohol content.
For those dieting but still drinking alcohol, vodka is typically the go-to due to its low calories and non-existent carbs. It is considered a much lower calorie alternative to beer and wine.
Single malt whiskies have more ellagic acid than red wine. ' As well as having an actively positive effect on the body, whisky is also the healthiest alcohol you can drink. It contains no fat and hardly any sugar or carbohydrates.
Everclear – This type of grain alcohol is 190 proof in its purest form, making it the most dangerous kind of alcohol a person can consume. Even two shots of Everclear can land a person in the emergency room – easily.
The faster alcohol gets into your bloodstream, the drunker you'll feel. People tend to sip wine, which may explain why being wine drunk is described as feeling more relaxed and chill than say, beer drunk, which often involves chugging, or tequila drunk, which involves the quick pounding back of potent shots.
Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks. Any links between red wine and fewer heart attacks aren't completely understood.
Alcohol is a common cause of liver disease. However, some contexts link moderate red wine consumption to good liver health. According to a 2018 study , modest alcohol intake, particularly wine, is linked with lower liver fibrosis in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Red wine appears to be particularly beneficial because it is very high in healthy antioxidants. In fact, red wine is linked to more health benefits than any other alcoholic beverage ( 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ).
Scientists reported that while both types of alcohol appear to be good for your heart health, they do so in different ways. Red wine relaxes the blood vessels, while vodka increased capillary density, which means more oxygen can be delivered to the blood. Cheers.
Vodka doesn't contain a significant amount of minerals or nutrients. Vodka has no sugar and fewer calories than some other liquors. If you already consume alcohol, vodka may be a slightly healthier option.
When you look at the overall picture, any alcohol that has added juices and mixers is going to be loaded with sugar and therefore higher in calories. If you are comparing alcohol that is straight up, vodka has zero grams of everything: carbs, sugar, fat, sodium, etc., whereas wine does have sugar and carb content.
Drinking a bottle of wine per day is not considered healthy by most standards. However, when does it morph from a regular, innocent occurrence into alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism? First, it's important to note that building tolerance in order to drink an entire bottle of wine is a definitive red flag.
Ultimately, it is not encouraged to consume a bottle of wine within a night. However, it can be beneficial to drink slightly less than one full glass per day. To learn more about drinking limits and intoxication, contact our substance abuse and mental health professionals by calling 866-345-2147 or visiting us here.
The Nagpur-based company is introducing Cordial Pride whisky and Cordial white rum, said to have a few health benefits – not affecting liver and kidney. It is also touted to have anti-aging properties and is guaranteed not to give one a hangover.
The liver is very resilient and capable of regenerating itself. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die. The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Eat a well-balanced diet every day. That's five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables, along with fiber from vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Be sure to include protein for the enzymes that help your body detox naturally.
Alcohol Causes Cirrhosis
With the consumption of wine, just like any other alcoholic beverage, the alcohol grabs the spotlight from every other macronutrient in the queue. Since the body cannot store alcohol, it must metabolize it at once. When large amounts of ethanol hit the liver, it damages the liver cells.
Alcohol isn't a healthy choice in general, but some alcohol is better for you than others. Red wine, whiskey, tequila, and hard kombucha are healthier options than beer and sugary drinks. The CDC recommends you limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day if you're male and 1 if you're female.