There's no harm in a glass or two. That’s how the saying goes. However, the "harm" certainly ends with the second or third glass. A new international study now shows this.
The research team concluded that five and a half glasses of wine, which is 100 grams of alcohol per week, reduces life expectancy and promotes cardiovascular problems. The results were published in the journal "The Lancet" and refute the widespread belief that alcohol in moderation, such as red wine, can have positive effects on the heart. Accordingly, the guidelines for alcohol consumption in Germany should be reconsidered. According to the German Nutrition Society in Bonn, 10 grams of alcohol per day are considered tolerable for women. For men, double the amount, 20 grams, is considered the maximum value.
In this large-scale study, data from a total of 600,000 people without cardiovascular complaints from 19 countries were evaluated. The data analysis showed that even the second glass of wine can shorten life expectancy by 30 minutes.
Alcohol: Under 100 grams recommendation
Alcohol consumption that is below 100 grams per week, i.e., low consumption, can have health-promoting aspects according to co-author Angela Wood from the University of Cambridge. According to this, a little alcohol could help you live longer and lower the risk for several cardiovascular diseases. Now the question remains whether the 70 grams of alcohol per week recommended by the German Nutrition Society (DGE) for women are tolerable. At 140 grams of alcohol per week, men are well above the now recommended limit.
Did you know,
- that on average, about 165 grams of alcohol are consumed per week in Germany, according to the "Addiction" yearbook.
- that red wine contains polyphenols and oligomeric proanthocyanidins? These are secondary plant compounds that are said to prevent heart disease.
• Do you want to know more about polyphenols and oligomeric proanthocyanidins? Click here.
