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Tag: drinking

  • A List of Heart Healthy Wines

    Research has long told us that drinking wine in moderation is good for your health and your heart in particular but with all the wines out there which ones should we be leaning towards if we want to benefit our cardiovascular health.

    Grapes are renowned for their antioxidants which lower the risk of heart disease and lessen blood clotting risks but make sure you stick to only 1 or 2 servings per day for men and one serving per day for women to enjoy maximum benefits.

    Cabernet Sauvignon and darker, drier wines are more rich in antioxidants than sweeter wines. Pinot Noir and Merlot are also good options for anyone looking for  the healthiest wine options.

    Read more at https://www.livestrong.com/article/292418-list-of-heart-healthy-wines/

  • Study Shows Alcohol’s Brain Benefits

    Scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) recently conducted a study on mice that found that drinking the equivalent of 2.5 alcoholic drinks a day was actually beneficial to the brain. In fact scientists found that alcohol consumed in moderation could reduce brain inflammation.

    The study revealed that alcohol could benefit the glymphatic system, the system that removes waste products from the brain however excessive consumption was found to have the opposite effect. Read more at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320824.php

  • Excessive Wine’s Impact on Your Cholesterol

    We’ve all heard about the benefits of moderate consumption of wine but what happens if we drink too much, does this affect your cholesterol?

    High density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol moves cholesterol to your liver and low density lipoprotein (LDL) is commonly known as bad cholesterol and moves it to your arteries where  it increases your risk of heart disease.

    Experts say that while red wine helps lower your cholesterol, if you exceed the maximum daily recommended intake amount it could actually have the opposite effect. Read more at https://www.livestrong.com/article/26328-can-drinking-wine-cause-high/

  • Health Conscious? Should You Drink Wine or Just Grape Juice.

    While the health benefits of wine have long been toted, both red wine and grape juice promote heart health and healthy blood pressure, as well as reduce your risk of developing blood clots. So which is better?

    Red wine is rich in polyphenols, which help fight against disease and also contains resveratrol which promotes heart health. It is also anti-inflammatory which helps fight cancer and is anti-aging. Wine also helps lower bad cholesterol and prevents blood clots.

    Grape juice has all the same antioxidants as red wine such as resveratrol and polyphenol. Some of the benefits include reduced blood clots, lowered cholesterol, protects blood vessels in the heart and lowers blood pressure.

    Ultimately some people shouldn’t drink alcohol, such as pregnant women and those with health problems like a weak heart. These people will benefit from grape juice rather than wine.

    Red wine should always be enjoyed in moderation because in excess, the health benefits are actually reversed. Too much of any alcoholic beverage has more risks than rewards.

  • More Than Half of All Adults Drink to Cope with Stress

    A study has found that almost 60 per cent of adult are drinking alcohol to cope with stress.

    The study examined the drinking patterns of people in the UK between the ages of 18 and 75 and found that the stress of everyday life was driving people to drink.

    The study was conducted by Drinkaware and assessed over 6000 adults over a few weeks between March and April last year.

    Of those questioned, 38 per cent of people both male and female said they drink alcohol to forget their problems. Almost half of those in the study revealed they drank to cheer themselves up.

    If we understand why people drink, we can better understand problem drinking and help tackle it.

    Read more http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/alcohol-stress-coping-mechanism-uk-adults-drinking-wine-beer-a8159721.html

     

  • Is it Acceptable to Save My Alcohol Points for the Weekend?

    Have you ever wondered if you can save your alcohol points and “splurge” on the weekend or on a special occasion?

    Some people think if they’ve abstained all week they can go all out drinking on the weekend, but experts say this doesn’t work.

    In fact this could put your health at risk.

    The Australian Government Department of Health said drinking no more than 4 standard drinks on any one occasion reduces your risk of alcohol related injury.

    For females, more than 4 drinks on one occasion is considered binge drinking. For males binge drinking is more than six drinks and as we know binge drinking can lead to any number of problems.

    See more at http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/health-advice/ask-a-gp-is-it-ok-to-save-my-alcohol-units-for-the-weekend-dr-evelyn-lewin/news-story/e029f9b97be034b75ce6416edd430668

  • Women Barred from Buying Alcohol in Sri Lanka

    The Sri Lankan president has sparked outrage after re-instating a  law banning women from buying alcohol and serving alcohol in bars.

    The 39 year old law was originally revoked by the finance ministry however the president ordered the ban be reinstated, despite concerns that laws were sexist.

    When the law was revoked, the finance minister was accused of encouraging drinking and some groups urged the president to have the law re-invoked.

    The measures include a ban on women working in bars, distilleries and breweries.

    The government also reduced the operating times for bars.

    The decision came as the president believed women buying alcohol would contribute to the breakdown of families.

     

    Read more https://www.sbs.com.au/news/sri-lanka-president-restores-ban-on-women-buying-alcohol

  • Four Percent of English Drink A Third of The Nation’s Alcohol

    According to the latest data, a minuscule 4 per cent of the English population consumes almost one third of all the alcohol sold in England.

    The data follows a debate currently going on in the British parliament about a 50 pence (Aus .87c) minimum unit price on alcohol.

    It was recently revealed that 4.4 per cent of the English population consumed just under a third of the alcohol consumed in the nation.

    Just 2 million people are drinking more than 30 per cent of the alcohol being consumed, and most are drinking the very cheap, high strength alcohol.

    See more at https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/europe/4-per-cent-of-english-drink-almost-1-3-of-england-s-alcohol-20180123-p4yyqv.html

  • A Guide to Hangover Cures

    There is so much debate around which hangover cures are best, which ones work and which one’s are just old wives tales.

    In our opinion the best cure is prevention, so drink in moderation and alternate one alcoholic drink with one glass of water and you can probably avoid getting a hangover altogether.

    If this isn’t an option, try one of these,

    • Ibuprofen washed down with grape fruit juice. The juice limits the activity of the enzyme that breaks down drugs and avoiding aspirin will be better for your stomach.
    • Pickle juice. Russians and Eastern Europeans swear by this method. It is believed to replenish electrolytes in your body.
    • Go for a run. To speed your metabolism and release endorphins.

    For more visit https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/heres-how-to-cure-your-festive-hangover/3301264/

     

  • Should You Reach for that Pint or Take a Shot Instead?

    Usually during this time of the year most people make resolutions regarding their health and fitness. If you are one of them, you may have wondered which drink to order at the bar that would be better for your health – beer or hard liquor?

    It’s important to understand that drinking should always be done in moderation and that means sticking to the daily recommended amount, however if calories and content are more of a concern, then you may want to know this.

    1. A regular serving of beer contains 150 calories and light beer 105. A shot of hard liquor contains around 96 calories.
    2. Don’t add mixers to your hard liquor because this will pack on the calories. For example a shot of hard liquor in a glass of orange juice is 216 calories. Opt for seltzer, water and ice instead.
    3. Hard liquor such as gin and vodka is carb and protein free. Regular beer contains carbs and a small amount of protein.
    4. Beer has a small amount of vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium while hard liquor has none.

    Read more at https://www.livestrong.com/article/465239-which-is-healthier-beer-or-hard-alcohol/