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Dr. Mercola
January 31 2008
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Is Exercise Best With a Little Alcohol?

alcohol, cocktail, exerciseAn active lifestyle that includes a little alcohol may be the ticket to preventing heart disease, according to a new study by Danish researchers.

The nearly 20-year study involved close to 12,000 men and women. Those who did not drink or do any exercise had the highest risk of heart disease, at 49 percent higher than those who drank, exercised or did both.

However, among people who did similar amounts of exercise, those who also drank moderately were 30 percent less likely to develop heart disease than non-drinkers.

Meanwhile, physically active people who drank at least one drink a week had up to 50 percent lower risk than physically inactive non-drinkers.

Past studies have suggested that alcohol may decrease your risk of heart disease by increasing levels of good cholesterol and thinning your blood.

In the study, “moderate” drinking was defined as one to 14 units of alcohol a week, with one unit of alcohol being equal to half a pint of normal strength beer, half of a medium-sized glass of wine, or a single shot of a spirit.

Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:
Alcohol has recently been singled out as a health tool, of all things, and though studies have linked moderate consumption to reductions in diabetes risk, rheumatoid arthritis, and even dementia, I do not suggest drinking it at all.

Let me repeat myself: Alcohol, despite all of the research showing potential benefits, is not something I recommend drinking.

Why?

Because alcohol is a neurotoxin that can poison your brain. It can also leave you more vulnerable to various preventable cancers, even in moderate amounts, and it can harm your body's delicate hormonal balance. Of course, drinking to excess can also cause major health problems, not the least of which is liver damage.

There is one positive side to certain types of alcohol, namely red wine, and that is the powerful plant polyphenols like reservatrol that it contains. Resveratrol is an antioxidant that has been found to extend life, prevent Alzheimer’s disease and inhibit the spread of cancer, and alcohol appears to significantly improve its absorption in your body.

So if you are taking resveratrol supplements and not using some alcohol to increase its absorption, it is likely much of your supplement is not going into your bloodstream but rather is going down the toilet.

That is likely why certain studies show health benefits from drinking red wine. The alcohol itself is not directly helpful, but indirectly it facilitates the absorption of these highly beneficial polyphenols.
 
Exercise is Always a Wise Choice

Regular physical activity will always be superior to drinking alcohol for your heart health. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise is quite remarkable. It can:
I am a major fan of using exercise therapeutically. Many of you probably don't know that one of my primary motivations for going to medical school was to use exercise therapeutically to help people get well.

Personally, I have been exercising ever since 1968 when I read Dr. Ken Cooper's book Aerobics. Dr. Cooper was a colonel in the Air Force and developed a fitness system for the space program. He actually invented the term "aerobics."

Since then, I have realized that although endurance cardio training is important, it really needs to be part of a more comprehensive, rounded program that includes short bursts of activity at very high intensity that is individualized for your specific fitness level.

The new evidence suggests that this may actually provide MORE protection against heart attacks than long, durational aerobic-type exercises.

Another major benefit of this approach is that it radically decreases the amount of time you spend exercising, while giving you even more benefits. It would be wise to have clearance by your physician if you are not in good shape before embarking on a program like this. However, you could start simply by walking and progress at your own pace.

The take-home message?

Don’t count on alcoholic beverages to keep your heart healthy. Instead, embark on an exercise routine that includes interval-type training, cardio and strength training.

Unlike drinking alcohol, this is a technique that should help nearly anyone who uses it.
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Community Comments ( 65 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
Islander
 [ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on January 16, 2008 ]
26 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
" Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,"* and wine warms the heart.

* Attributed to Ben Franklin. And if you have proof that he didn't actually say it, please don't tell me.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
proatc
 		[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on January 17, 2008]
6 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Hip, Hip.................
Mercola
  
Knobby
 		[ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on January 31, 2008]
11 Points        
   
This user is BELOW novice level and all their comments need to be reviewed with great caution.
  Mercola

Yes, Islander, beer is proof that God loves us. But a greater proof is His creation of WOMAN.
Mercola
  
ebatycki
 		[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on February 1, 2008]
7 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

Hehehe, cute. I wonder what hangovers are proof of?
Mercola
  
BradleyA
 		[ Joined on 09/07 ]  [ Posted on February 1, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Assuming that Ben Franklin is a health expert because he discovered electricity is an interesting premise on which to support a belief.
Mercola
  
Masonsmama
 		[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on February 1, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

"If god made anything better than heroin, he kept it for himself..."

-Dizzy Gillespie

Before you all go getting appalled, just remember that alcohol is as addictive, if not more so, than heroin... It may be a slower process, but it's still highly addictive... and it can be fatal to detox from. Cheers!
Mercola
  
chopperthedog
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on February 8, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Yes.  It is in the Bible, God has given us wine.

Psalm 104: 14-15 "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine which makes man's heart glad."  NASV

That being said, there are plenty of verses warning of the dangers of excess.

I drink moderately - I find a beer or a glass of wine helps me sleep.  I work swing shift.
Mercola
  
no nonsense
 		[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on March 4, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Right chopperthedog, and don't forget when Jesus turned water into wine! Not just ordinary wine, but the best (aged I supposed) drank for special occations.  John 2:1-11
  
  
Bridestein
 [ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on January 16, 2008 ]
24 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Well I've never considered drinking a beer at 6:00 a.m. before and I'm not sure my gym allows open containers, but I guess I'm willing to give it a try if it'll benefit my heart.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
nana of 4
 		[ Joined on 12/07 ]  [ Posted on January 17, 2008]
26 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Hmmmmm, maybe "that's" why I fell off the treadmill yesterday!
Mercola
  
Bridestein
 		[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on January 17, 2008]
13 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
In all seriousness, the best boost to my workout comes from having a conversation while I work out. Breathing is easier and my heart rate is lower even though I haven't changed my pace or level. Sometimes I even consider talking out loud to myself.

Mercola
  
New to Natural
 		[ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on January 17, 2008]
25 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
FINALLY!!  An exercise routine I could stick to!  Now, how to attach a cooler  to the "eliptical"...............
Mercola
  
Patty D
 		[ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on January 17, 2008]
9 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Bridestein, I use a Gazelle and I sing while I'm on it, at least during the slower paced spots.  It helps my breathing and it passes the time...and the dogs don't seem to mind!
  
  
Russ Bianchi
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on January 16, 2008 ]
21 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Hmmmmm, I personally KNOW that if I have even one glass of wine with dinner it slows DOWN my body's ability to process and correctly stay at optimum weight, with or without exercise.

I'm not buying these conclusions, at least for me.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
samurai
 		[ Joined on 04/07 ]  [ Posted on January 16, 2008]
21 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Russ,
I couldn't agree with you more.  I used to play this game with myself; I would do more StairMaster than I would drink.  That is, if I drank 250 calories of wine, I would "work off" 500 calories on the StairMaster. 
It took me forever to realize that a calorie is not equal to a calorie, and hmmmmmmm.... I just couldn't seem to drop the weight working out and drinking wine...  hmmmmm.... 
Insulin resistance; what a