Medical researchers are cautioning the health care professionals to downplay the popular but unproven supposition that drinking red wine can help ward off heart attacks.
American Health Association is now of the opinion that methods other than sipping a daily glass or two of wine, which may be less appealing have to be found out, because of the risks involved in drinking, like alcoholic addiction, nervous debility etc.
They are of opinion that there is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace the benefits that we can get from doing regular morning exercise or walking and following a healthy diet that may reduce our LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Actually, our ancestors have already proved that regular exercise and a healthy diet, with less oil and less animal products can effectively reduce the risk of a heart attack, and at the same time allow us to lead a healthy life.
The popular hypothesis that drinking wine helps counter the harmful effects of dietary cholesterol, and saturated fat, grew out of surveys conducted in some parts of Europe, especially France, where wine is regularly consumed. But researchers are of the opinion that there may be other dietary factors which helps in a reduction of cholesterol, like eating fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fish, reduced intake of milk products etc.
There is a popular belief that drinking alcohol increases the antioxidants but there is no proof. It is fact that the antioxidants that we might get from alcohol or red wine can also be obtained from unfermented grape juice or any other locally available fresh fruits or fresh vegetables and these have already been proved.
The proposed benefits of alcohol consumption must be weighed against its adverse effects. Consuming more than one or two drinks can raise the blood pressure in many persons and also lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, stroke, irregular heart beat etc.
In short, it has already been proved that alcohol is an addictive substance with many down -side risks. By the time an individual understands the risks involved, he would have reached such an addictive stage that there will be no escape for him.
Therefore, think twice before you take a sip, even if it is occasional or for the sake of company.