Chill Out – Have a Beer, lar!

So I’m not sure what your religion exactly says about drinking alcohol. Maybe there is a chapter and verse in your holy book that says: ‘thou shall not drink alcohol.’ But I don’t know. And maybe you just do whatever some religious bigots tell you to do.

At any rate, whatever your religion does or does not say, I thought it would be useful to know that there are actually some positive health effects to moderate alcohol consumption. (Well, some of you who indulge freely and merrily obviously know of many other ‘benefits’ so I don’t need to get into those.)

Did you know that “research extending back as far as 1926 has demonstrated that drinking in moderation is associated with greater longevity than is either abstaining or abusing alcohol. The medical research evidence is now unquestionable and demonstrates that the effect is not the result of health-compromised alcoholics who abstain.”

A Harvard's Nurses' Health Study consisting of over 85,000 women reported “reduced mortality among moderate drinkers.” Now isn’t that fascinating!

“In addition to having fewer heart attacks and strokes, moderate consumers of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine or distilled spirits or liquor) are generally less likely to suffer hypertension or high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, Alzheimer's disease and the common cold. Sensible drinking also appears to be beneficial in reducing or preventing diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bone fractures and osteoporosis, kidney stones, digestive ailments, stress and depression, poor cognition and memory, Parkinson's disease, hepatitis A, pancreatic cancer, macular degeneration (a major cause of blindness), angina pectoris, duodenal ulcer, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, gallstones, liver disease and poor physical condition in elderly.”

Well, needless to say, I was just struck by how much scientific information there is out there about the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Sounds to me like there are lots more worse things in life than a beer every now and then.

But what is still so puzzling to me is how some people can be so presumptuous - trying to play God - as to dictate how ordinary people should lead their lives.

Seems to me like everything else in God's universe, if you indulge in something excessively, it can become toxic, and alcohol - like most things - in moderation, might do us some good.

So here's to your health.

Cheers!

G. Krishnan