14 DAY TRIAL // It's terrible news for those who like to go around telling people that they drink wine on a regular basis because they are looking to improve on their cardiovascular health.
Thus, researchers with the University of Pennsylvania in the United States say that, contrary to previous claims, alcohol consumption does not benefit heart health.
What's more, these scientists say it's cutting down on the amount of alcohol one indulges in every once in a while that reduces coronary heart disease risk and blood pressure, and can even foster weight loss.
In a paper published in the British Medical Journal, the specialists say that, in order to determine how alcohol consumption influences health, they looked at the medical records of about 260,000 people.
Of these individuals, those who almost never consumed alcoholic beverages were found to also be the ones who stayed the healthiest over time.
Specifically, a 17% lower weekly alcohol intake was linked to a 10% drop in coronary heart disease risk, as well as lower blood pressure and a lower body mass index.
“Contrary to what earlier reports have shown, it now appears that any exposure to alcohol has a negative impact upon heart health,” study co-lead author Michael Holmes explains in a statement.
Furthermore, “What we’re seeing with this new study, which uses an investigative approach similar to a randomized clinical trial, is that reduced consumption of alcohol, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may lead to improved cardiovascular health.”