Some studies have suggested that drinking alcohol may help protect against heart disease. Adults who consume one to two alcoholic beverages a day appear to have a lower risk of coronary artery disease.  It doesn’t appear to matter whether you drink wine, beer or liquor. But moderation is key. Consuming more than one drink per day for women or more than two drinks per day for men increases the risk for high blood pressure, stroke, some types of cancer and dependence on alcohol.

Alcohol Facts You Need to Know

• One drink is defined as 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, 5 fluid ounces of wine, or 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
• Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol because some medications can interact with alcohol, and some people with specific medical conditions should not drink at all.

If you don’t currently drink alcohol, it is not recommended to begin drinking alcohol for health benefits alone, since there are many other health risks due to drinking alcohol. And, as a reminder, if you do drink alcohol, remember, moderation is key.