In a new study by Harvard University's Tan Chan School of Public Health, researchers led by Harvard Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology Dr. Frank Hu and a group of scientists from Chicago, Switzerland, the Netherlands and China concluded that avoiding alcohol is more harmful for health than moderate drinking.
Taking as a basis the data of almost 112,000 people (medical workers - women from 30 to 55 years old and men from 40 to 75 years old), whose health status was monitored from 28 to 34 years old, the scientists analyzed their indicators for the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and tracked five lifestyle factors - smoking, body mass index (BMI), regular physical activity (moderate to vigorous), moderate alcohol consumption, and proper nutrition.
“Based on the data obtained on specific people and years of research, we concluded that moderate alcohol consumption as a practice reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and can improve cognitive function,” - said one of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Qi San.
Scientists noted that if we take into account people who do not have diseases, do not smoke, follow a diet, with a normal BMI and regular physical activity, then on average, women live 9.5 years (men 8.8 years) live longer than people with such the same indicators, but chronic diseases. If people drink alcohol in moderation, then on average, life expectancy for women increases to 12.5 years (for men - up to 9.6 years) in comparison with people who drink moderately and have diseases. Men and women who smoke a lot and are overweight have the lowest life expectancy without cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
As a norm, researchers call the use of one glass of alcohol a drink no more than once a day 3-5 times a week.
