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Alcohol Good for Men's Hearts

Daily drinking reduces disease risk by more than a third, says study

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 19, 2009 10:59 AM CST

(Newser) – Drink up boys, it’s good for you—or for your heart at least, says a new study. Drinking cut heart disease risk by 35% to 50% in the survey conducted in Spain. It followed 15,500 men and 26,000 women, and found that daily heavy drinking did wonders for the men’s heart health. Women benefited to a much smaller extent, reports the BBC. The type of alcohol didn't matter much.

The more men drank, the greater their risk fell, with the heaviest drinkers—those taking three to 11 shots a day—seeing an average 50% drop. The researchers say they isolated out anyone who’d quit drinking because they were already in poor health; such “sick abstainers” have been used to explain away similar results in the past. Health experts rushed to criticize the study, pointing out that drinking increases the risk of other diseases, and in general isn’t very good for you.

A drinker relaxes at a cider pub in Somerset, England. (Getty Images)

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Daily drinking reduces disease risk by more than a third, says study

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Malaria Kills Twice as Many as We Thought: Study

Health officials have been undercounting adult victims, researchers argue

Fried Food Doesn't Cause Heart Attacks

...Assuming it's fried in olive oil or sunflower oil

Heart Patients Told Sex Is Safe—but Not Affairs

Risk of dying during sex miniscule for most patients, study finds

Seniors Binge Drink the Most

Half of all alcohol consumed in America drunk in binges

1 in 6 Americans Is a Binge Drinker

Nation's heaviest boozers are in Wisconsin, study finds

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Alcohol Good for Men's Hearts

Daily drinking reduces disease risk by more than a third, says study

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

alcohol • heart disease • drinking • health study

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Malaria Kills Twice as Many as We Thought: Study

Health officials have been undercounting adult victims, researchers argue

Fried Food Doesn't Cause Heart Attacks

...Assuming it's fried in olive oil or sunflower oil

Heart Patients Told Sex Is Safe—but Not Affairs

Risk of dying during sex miniscule for most patients, study finds

Seniors Binge Drink the Most

Half of all alcohol consumed in America drunk in binges

1 in 6 Americans Is a Binge Drinker

Nation's heaviest boozers are in Wisconsin, study finds

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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What is Newser?