It’s not often that I get to quote a celebrity, but this one by Ferris Bueller seems really appropriate for this article: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” My goal with writing this article is to provide information on how to better your health while still enjoying life.

Recently I was approached by one of my readers at a popular watering hole wondering when I was going to write an article on the benefits of drinking beer. I thought this might be a good time to speak on this subject since it is October and in certain cultures it can be a month-long Octoberfest celebration.

A large evidence-based review on the effects of a moderate consumption of beer on human health has been conducted by an international panel of experts who reached a full consensus on that low-moderate (up to 1 drink per day in women, up to 2 in men), non-bingeing beer consumption, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. This effect is similar to that of wine, at comparable alcohol amounts.

There is no evidence that beer drinking is different from other types of alcoholic beverages in respect to risk for some cancers. Evidence consistently suggests a relationship between alcohol consumption (including beer) and all-cause mortality, with lower risk for moderate alcohol consumers than for abstainers or heavy drinkers.

Wine consumption (one to two glasses a day) is associated with decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, including colon, basal cell, ovarian, and prostate carcinoma. The advantage of wine over beer may be that wine has a higher phenolic or antioxidant capacity which poses an additive benefit over beer.

The benefits of consuming beer or wine at any dosage, is not recommended for children, adolescents, pregnant women, individuals at risk to develop alcoholism, those with cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias, depression, liver and pancreatic diseases, or anyone engaged in actions that require concentration, skill or coordination

Although alcohol consumption is a two-sided coin, moderate alcohol consumption especially of wine has demonstrated the provision of a protective role for the cardiovascular system and in some types of cancer. Most medical professionals as well as the American Heart Association agree that heavy drinkers or alcohol abstainers should not be encouraged to drink wine for health reasons. Wine consumption should not replace a healthy lifestyle. However, light-to-moderate wine drinkers, without medical complications, may be assured that their wine consumption is a healthy habit.

In our desire to have a clean and healthy lifestyle, it is important to keep things in perspective. Moderation is the key in every aspect of our lives, whether that is eating or drinking and even exercise. In the end, we want to take note of Ferris’s quote so that we don’t “miss it”. Our paleolithic ancestors probably didn’t have access to a craft beer or a good glass of wine, but rest assured if they did, they probably would have embraced them, in moderation of course.

Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!