A study on mice suggests that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol each day could protect against arthritis.
Mice that were given water containing 10 percent alcohol for six to eight weeks were less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, and had less severe symptoms. This was not necessarily an indication of whether alcohol would have the same effect for humans, or how much alcohol would do so.
The alcohol may have worked by boosting production of testosterone, which restricts the mechanism that releases proteins called cytokines. Cytokines can cause inflammation.
The arthritis in this study was induced by injecting collagen into mice. Certainly not the typical way most people come down with RA. So it's unknown whether this kind of induced arthritis follows the same pathologic course as rheumatoid arthritis in humans.
It is important to remember that it is well established that alcohol is a neurotoxin, which means it can poison your brain. You also need to be aware that consuming large amounts of wine will increase insulin levels and eventually have a negative impact on your health that way as well.
But it seems more evidence is emerging about the dubious "health benefits" of consuming moderate amounts of alcohol. However, considering that alcohol can leave you more vulnerable to various preventable cancers, it's probably better to avoid it. The alcohol contained in beverages like red wine can also harm your body's delicate hormonal balance.
The element that leads to confusion is that many consume alcohol in the form of wine and there are clearly major benefits to consuming the bioflavanoids that are present in grape seeds and grape skins, but NOT in the alcohol caused by fermenting the sugar in the grape pulp.
I strongly urge you to avoid this dubious "treatment," and consider healthier, safer solutions like my RA protocol. It's a modified version of Dr. Thomas Brown's groundbreaking regimen that I have used for the last 20 years to help many thousands of people recover from rheumatoid arthritis.
On Vital Votes, biochemist Russ Bianchi agrees:
"Alcohol is a DEPRESSANT, as well as TOXIC. "One becomes 'high' due to blood toxicity, and the liver's inability to purge it fast enough from the blod stream. "The higher the alcohol level, the more toxic. "To argue ANY level of alcohol is safe, effective, or in any way of benefit to human health, is simply ridiculous. "Wine and beer can assist in cleansing the palate for improved sensory taste and aroma benefits with a meal, however the alcoholic content is still indeed highly CALORIC, as well as metabolization slowing, and FATTENING, to those over consuming, and most definitely contributes to an INCREASE in inflammation in humans."
"Alcohol is a DEPRESSANT, as well as TOXIC.
"One becomes 'high' due to blood toxicity, and the liver's inability to purge it fast enough from the blod stream.
"The higher the alcohol level, the more toxic.
"To argue ANY level of alcohol is safe, effective, or in any way of benefit to human health, is simply ridiculous.
"Wine and beer can assist in cleansing the palate for improved sensory taste and aroma benefits with a meal, however the alcoholic content is still indeed highly CALORIC, as well as metabolization slowing, and FATTENING, to those over consuming, and most definitely contributes to an INCREASE in inflammation in humans."
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