Health and Happiness May Be Found in a Daily Glass of Wine
Current statistics show UK alcohol consumption to be on the decline, potentially due to its frequently reported association with adverse health consequences. However, it has been suggested that drinking in moderation may also offer protective effects against chronic disease. A recent study by Horst et al. found low-to-moderate and more frequent alcohol consumption to reduce risk of diabetes [1] . After discussing these findings within the literature, focusing on risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, it could be concluded that following UK alcohol guidelines of drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week , but spreading this out across 5-7 occasions and opting for wine more often than beer or spirits, may be appropriate advice for the general population for drinking responsibly and optimising health. Alcohol is a widely consumed and legal recreational drug, being drunk by 57% of adults in the UK [2]. It is produced by bacterial o...