A study provides new insights
"Moderate consumption of alcohol is good for us"
"A glass of red wine protects our heart"
Myths like these have been floating around for some time. I have always been skeptical about it. After all, alcohol is a poison. Why should a little poison be good for you?
Where these myths come from can only be guessed. It is likely that this narrative was pushed by the alcohol industry and readily adopted by drinkers in order to feel better about themselves.
But in the long run, this misconception can be dangerous.
The World Heart Federation released a policy brief saying that no amount of alcohol is good for the heart.
Beatriz Champagne, chair of the advocacy committee that produced the report said it was time for her to clarify that contrary to popular belief, no amount of alcohol is beneficial to health.
She should know. She has the appropriate name when it comes to this issue. Jokes aside.
The criticism
Of course, not everyone likes this news. As expected, there were contradictions. After all, there would be some studies that prove the opposite. But if you take a closer look at who commissioned these studies, some things become clear.
I don't trust any statistic that I haven't faked myself. Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
Champagne (the woman from the World Heart Federation, not the drink) responded to the criticism as follows:
"In brief, our position is that studies showing a significant cardioprotective effect of alcohol consumption have by-and-large been observational, inconsistent, funded by the alcohol industry, and/or not subject to randomized control. Furthermore, any potential cardioprotective effect is negated by the well-documented risks and harms, rendering our judgment that no amount of consumption can be considered good for heart health."
Key Takeaways:
What do we learn from this?
One should not always believe everything. Especially when it comes to the interests of large corporations. Maybe you should reconsider your daily beer or glass of red wine after these findings.
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