The Argument No Longer Stands
from "Rust Out" by Dr. Royce Bailey, page 153
Why Alcohol Is Not Beneficial To Your Heart
The negative effects of alcohol are well established. The evidence of alcohol’s benefits comes mainly from epidemiologic studies that were not well controlled for other influences, such as lifestyle factors. National guidelines now recommend caution in applying any benefit to your health from alcohol.
Benefits From Diet Not Alcohol
Some reports of mortality and coronary benefits of alcohol were based on the use of negligible amounts of alcoholic beverages, showing that other factors besides the alcohol are causing the reported improved life expectancy. In the Copenhagen Heart Study (1995), for example, wine drinkers had a lower relative risk for coronary disease, but also ate twice as many fruit and vegetables as the control group (made up of former heavy drinkers, diabetics, etc.).
Outcomes Biased For Alcohol’s Benefit
Publication bias has led to an overestimation of the reported benefit of alcohol because these scientists want an excuse to continue to drink alcohol. Alcohol was shown to increase your good HDL cholesterol, but the HDL subtype (there are five subtypes) that increased is not the optimal one for coronary protection. Claims that wine is healthier than other alcoholic beverages are not corroborated by the literature. Alcohol drinking of any kind propenses individuals into alcohol craving and dependence.
Reference:
Lieber,C.S., “Alcohol And Health: A Drink A Day Won’t Keep The Doctor Away,” Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Medicine, Vol.70 (11); November 2003:945-953.
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