I know moderate drinking can prevent heart disease, but why!?!?

I have heard and read that moderate alcohol consumption is good for preventing heart disease, and i know a high level of HDL cholesterol prevents heart disease, but what does alcohol have to do with it?!?

it depends on what type of alcohol...not all are created equal and healthy. it reduces the plaque in your arteries

Red, not white, wine contains polyphenols.

These potent antioxidants are liberated during fermentation so the potential benefit is considered to be significant.

Hey there.....

The short (ish) answer is two-fold:

First, small amounts of alcohol help to relax your body's nervous system, helping to get rid of daily stress.

Second, there are Anti-Oxidants in RED WINE that help your body fight heart disease, so it's more about the grape skin than the alcohol.

Combined, small amounts of red wine (the recommended alcohol to help you), like a couple glasses a week can help you relax and give you an anti-oxidant boost.

Hope this helps you!

Over the past several decades, many studies have been published in science journals about how drinking alcohol may be associated with reduced mortality due to heart disease in some populations. Some researchers have suggested that the benefit may be due to wine, especially red wine. Others are examining the potential benefits of components in red wine such as flavonoids (FLAV'oh-noidz) and other antioxidants (an"tih-OK'sih-dants) in reducing heart disease risk. Some of these components may be found in other foods such as grapes or red grape juice. The linkage reported in many of these studies may be due to other lifestyle factors rather than alcohol. Such factors may include increased physical activity, and a diet high in fruits and vegetables and lower in saturated fats No direct comparison trials have been done to determine the specific effect of wine or other alcohol on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke.

Research is being done to find out what the apparent benefits of drinking wine or alcohol in some populations may be due to, including the role of antioxidants, an increase in HDL ("good") cholesterol or anti-clotting properties. Clinical trials of other antioxidants such as vitamin E have not shown any cardio-protective effect. Also, even if they were protective, antioxidants can be obtained from many fruits and vegetables, including red grape juice.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.)

moderate drinking increase the level of high denisty lipoprotienHDL.it is the good cholesterol that protect your heart