A study was conducted recently on the life spans of those who drink alcohol and those who don’t. Interestingly enough the study ruled in favor of those who drink. However, it wasn’t so much the alcohol which contributed to the subject’s healthful longevity, but more so what the consumption of alcohol represents. Alcohol itself is still considered quite unhealthful for the body, especially when taken to excess, but of course there are “better” options.
I personally always promote the idea that “things are always okay in moderation” if it contributes to your overall happiness, for those of you that might have read my previous “health benefits of tequila” article you have a bit of a head start on this philosophy!
The nuts and bolts of the study:
Led by Charles Holahan, a psychologist from the University of Texas (Austin), and which was published in the Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Journal.
The study occurred over a 20 year period, and surveyed over 2000 people 55-65 years old. The study included those who abstained from alcohol or don’t drink it, those who drink it moderately, and those who drunk heavily.
The result: 69% abstainers died, regardless of “lifestyle”. 60% heavy drinkers died. And 41% of the moderate drinkers died after a 20 year period.
Conclusions
It was said that even some of the abstainers lived a “healthy lifestyle”, however it is important to keep in mind that it is a purely statistical study with the actual reasons of these results left to interpretation. Therefore we first and foremost can conclude that within this study those who moderately drank alcohol in their late age outlived the other types of people that participated in the study more often.
Perhaps then the idea of “everything in moderation” isn’t such a token idea after all! The types of people who drink moderately, we might infer, are the type of people who know what “too much of a good thing” might be. They are after all, not depriving themselves of life’s pleasures, but still living modestly.
“Moderation” might indicate many other things
Furthermore, those who drink alcohol moderately might indicate that they drink recreationally, and thus a healthy social life and network of friends and family definitely contributes to long-term happiness which reduces blood pressure, feelings of loneliness or depression, and stimulates the brain which staves off degenerative neurological disorders!
Of course, if you are drinking, you can afford to drink and other studies show that financial stability also contributes to reduced to no stress which will promote your longevity as your body wont hang on to toxins and other negative processes that are stress-induced over a long period of time!
As I said before alcohol itself is not largely recognized as being in anyway beneficial to your health, but if it brings you joy amongst friends, or relaxes you from any stress that you have been building up, then by all means enjoy responsibly in moderation! Have a great day!
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