The Italians and French attribute drinking red wine to their robust good health.  Studies abound on the value of drinking a glass or two a day.  But does a moderate consumption of alcohol (and in my case, wine specifically) really contribute to our health?

Our friends at CrushWire clued us in to an article that ran in the 9/21 issue of The Wall Street Journal.  In the story, reporter Lettie Teague drilled into the myths and realities of alcohol and its impact on our cardio health and other conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 2 diabetes.  Since Journal content is subscription-only, I’ll sum it up for you: maybe…and only in moderation.

Teague spoke with a number of physicians, many of whom had conflicting opinions of the published research on the subject.  One issue with most published studies, according to Teague’s story, is that most data was gathered via surveys vs. actual clinical trials where control groups of drinkers and non drinkers were followed over a period of several years.  However, at least one doctor interviewed by Teague cited the 90% of studies that agree consuming up to two glasses of wine or beer, or a shot of liquor per day offers “cardio protective benefits.”  More than that starts to raise one’s risk for other diseases, including the Big C.

So enjoy a glass (or two) this evening, knowing you’re giving your heart and your palate a little treat.