Research: Moderate drinking good for men's heart

[THE BOUNCER]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_5561104.htm

BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Excessive drinking is known to increase blood pressure, however, a new research suggests that men with high blood pressure have a lower risk of heart attack if they have a drink or two per day.

According to the research available Wednesday, small amounts of alcohol may act to thin the blood while increasing levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol in such patients, resulting in a protective effect.

The research was led by Joline Beulens of Wageningen University in the Netherlands who at the time was a visiting scholar at Harvard School of Public Health.

In their study, the researchers tracked more than 11,700 men diagnosed with high blood pressure who were between the ages of 40 and 75.

All the men in the study completed initial and follow-up questionnaires between 1986 and 2002 that collected information on their medical history, diets, and drinking habits.

Every four years participants filled out a questionnaire including details of how often they drank beer, red wine, white wine and spirits.

During the 16 years of the study, 653 of the participants had a heart attack, and in 279 cases, the attack was fatal. However, Beulens and her team found that moderate drinking was associated with a decrease in the overall risk for heart attack.

Compared to abstainers, men with hypertension who drank about a drink per day were 32 percent less likely to experience fatal or non-fatal heart attack; men who drank between one and two drinks per day had a 28 percent lower risk.

Spirits, followed by beer and wine, were the most popular option among those study participants who drank. Moderate consumption of spirits also showed the strongest association with lowered heart attack risk, the researchers said.

"Men with hypertension that drink moderately -- one to two drinks a day -- do not need to change those habits," Beulens said.

However she urged men not to have three drinks a day, as this increases their blood pressure and risk of an attack.

Because the study only looked at men the authors said it is impossible to say whether or not the findings also apply to women.

[Alin]

I've recently read all positive effects of red wine. anti-aging, anti oxidant, etc...

[EuroMuscles]

Drinking is awesome.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by EuroMuscles

Drinking is awesome.

you are a smart one I see..

[EuroMuscles]

Actually I am pretty damn smart, but maybe not as extremely dedicated to bodybuildings as you are. Doesn't mean that I completely suck at it though.

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by EuroMuscles

Actually I am pretty damn smart, but maybe not as extremely dedicated to bodybuildings as you are. Doesn't mean that I completely suck at it though.

You're either dedicated or you're not. It's that simple. There is no half-ass. If you're not "extremely dedicated" than you're not dedicated at all.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by EuroMuscles

Actually I am pretty damn smart, but maybe not as extremely dedicated to bodybuildings as you are. Doesn't mean that I completely suck at it though.

regardless. bodybuilding or not. i dont think the statement "drinking is awsome" is smart on any level.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by babyblues

You're either dedicated or you're not. It's that simple. There is no half-ass. If you're not "extremely dedicated" than you're not dedicated at all.

well not everyone has to be a bodybuilder. its fine for normal people to live a healthy lifestyle or gain a little muscle. the fact remains, the statement "drinking is awesome" is just dumb.

[EuroMuscles]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

well not everyone has to be a bodybuilder. its fine for normal people to live a healthy lifestyle or gain a little muscle. the fact remains, the statement "drinking is awesome" is just dumb.

Glad to hear that there are bodybuilders who aren't completely into this whole "endless dedication OR DIE" crap.
But no, it's not such a dumb phrase. Drinking can be pretty awesome at times...

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by EuroMuscles

Drinking can be pretty awesome at times...

Ok, but can you see why I would think that statement was dumb? You didnt say "at times" in your first post. You just said, "drinking is awesome". I can understand what you are saying now.

[hardy]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

well not everyone has to be a bodybuilder. its fine for normal people to live a healthy lifestyle or gain a little muscle. the fact remains, the statement "drinking is awesome" is just dumb.

exactly bouncer....u dont have to be a extreme bodybuilder like i think u may be....heck i have managed to go from 150 to a current 220 using aspects of bodybuilding but never becoming a extreme bodybuilder .the day training is no longer fun to me is the day i give it up.......oh yeah drinking can be fun at times euro.

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

well not everyone has to be a bodybuilder. its fine for normal people to live a healthy lifestyle or gain a little muscle.

No, not everyone has to be a bodybuilder, you're right. I guess I see it as a difference in goals instead of greater or lesser dedication. Everyone has different goals but being dedicated to those goals is either 100% or nothing. There is no in between. There are certainly extreme goals but I don't think that Jay Cutler is any more or less dedicated to his goals than I am to mine. His goals are certainly much much more extreme than mine. I don't call myself a serious bodybuilder but I do have things I would like to accomplish, both in and out of the gym.

[EuroMuscles]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

Ok, but can you see why I would think that statement was dumb?

Yeah pretty much, it's probably not that awesome to be an alcoholic.