Recently, a study from an American university shocked society: after 15 years of observational research, researchers found that moderate alcohol consumption may be more conducive to longevity than daily exercise.
This discovery is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for those who love to drink, but it also confuses those who continue to exercise. How, exactly, is this study very?
And how should we think about the health effects of alcohol and exercise?
1. Fifteen-year studies have revealed the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and longevity
The 15-year study included 1,700 people between the ages of 90 and 99. The researchers tracked their lifestyle habits, including diet, exercise, and alcohol consumption, and made long-term observations of their health.
The results showed that older adults who drank moderate amounts of alcohol every day, especially wine or beer, were 18% less likely to die prematurely than those who did not drink alcohol.
In contrast, those who exercised for 15 to 45 minutes a day had only an 11 percent lower risk of premature death. This statistic is undoubtedly alarming, and it seems to suggest that moderate drinking may be an overlooked recipe for longevity.
However, this does not mean that we can drink unscrupulously. Moderation is crucial, and this is only an observational study, and it does not prove that alcohol directly leads to longer lifespans. More research is needed to discuss the causal relationship behind it.
2. The dual effects of alcohol consumption on social interaction and health
In social situations, drinking alcohol is often seen as a way to bring people closer. Some studies have shown that people who drink alcohol in moderation are more socially active, have a wider social network, are more likely to integrate into the community, and build trust and interactions. For example, one study found that drinking alcohol could boost the secretion of endorphins, neurotransmitters that have been linked to boosting immunity and improving feelings of well-being.
However, these studies did not fully consider the effects of alcohol consumption on physical health, and they focused more on the social and psychological effects of alcohol consumption.
In fact, any form of alcohol, even in low doses, can cause damage to health once it enters the body. Alcohol affects the volume of gray matter in the brain, which is responsible for processing information, and if damaged, even small effects can lead to cognitive decline, increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
So, while we are enjoying the social pleasure of drinking, we can't ignore the potential harm it can cause to the body. The balance between moderate drinking and health is an art that requires us to find a reasonable balance between happiness and health.
3. The trade-off between alcohol intake and brain health
When discussing the effects of alcohol on brain health, we have to mention the role of gray matter in the brain. Brain gray matter is a key component of the central nervous system, which contains a large number of nerve cell bodies that are primarily responsible for processing information from throughout the body. Studies have shown that even moderate alcohol consumption may have an impact on the volume of gray matter in the brain.
When alcohol enters the brain, it affects the balance of neurotransmitters through blood circulation, which in turn interferes with the transmission of nerve signals. Long-term alcohol consumption may cause a decrease in the volume of gray matter in the brain, which is associated with cognitive decline, memory loss, and even an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
As some studies in the field of neuroscience have pointed out, the brain's adaptability, while powerful, is limited in its tolerance to neurodepressants such as alcohol.
So, while drinking alcohol in moderation may bring momentary pleasure, its negative impact on brain health in the long run cannot be ignored. When weighing alcohol intake against brain health, we need to recognize that keeping your brain healthy is more important than short-term pleasure.
4. Quantitative research on alcohol consumption and cancer risk
There has been a great deal of quantitative research in the scientific community on the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. According to 2020 statistics, 741,000 new cancer cases worldwide are related to alcohol consumption. These studies reveal a fact that cannot be ignored: even light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Specifically, light and moderate drinkers who drink less than 2 drinks a day account for 1 in 7 new cancer cases. More than 100,000 of these cancer cases are related to alcohol consumption.
More importantly, the proportion of new cancers in non-drinkers is significantly lower than among drinkers, which varies from 1% to 9% in statistics across regions.
The mechanism of alcohol as a carcinogen may involve the production of carcinogens during metabolic processes and the interference of alcohol with the DNA repair process.
Therefore, even moderate alcohol consumption should be wary of possible health risks. The potential health costs of alcohol should not be overlooked, especially for those with a family history of cancer.
5. A delicate balance between moderate alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health
Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death worldwide. Interestingly, moderate alcohol consumption is thought by some studies to have possible heart health benefits. For example, the polyphenolic compounds in red wine, such as resveratrol, are thought to have antioxidant properties and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
However, the relationship between this protective effect and the amount of alcohol consumed is extremely subtle. Beyond the threshold of moderate alcohol consumption, the beneficial effects of alcohol can quickly turn into negative effects, such as an increased risk of high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. Clinical studies have shown that moderate drinkers do have lower rates of heart disease than those who never drink alcohol, but once the moderate amount is exceeded, this protective effect is lost.
Therefore, for cardiovascular health, it is particularly important to control the amount of alcohol consumed, which needs to be determined by each person according to their own health status and the advice of their doctor.
6. Long-term effects of alcohol intake on the liver
The liver is not only one of the most critical metabolic organs in the human body, but also the center of alcohol metabolism. Long-term excessive alcohol intake can cause serious damage to the liver, which may lead to the risk of fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.
Alcohol is metabolized in the liver to produce a toxic substance called acetaldehyde, which is highly cytotoxic and mutagenic, and can damage liver cells, causing inflammation and fibrosis. Even moderate alcohol consumption, if not accompanied by proper diet and exercise, can cause damage to the liver over time.
Therefore, for people who love alcohol, regular liver function tests, paying attention to liver health, and developing a drinking plan under the guidance of a doctor are necessary steps to maintain health.
epilogue
When discussing the relationship between moderate drinking and longevity, we inevitably face a complex reality: alcohol can indeed provide health benefits to people in some cases, but these benefits are often conditional and limited.
The effects of alcohol intake on organs such as the brain, heart, and liver are a complex biological question, which is not only related to the physiological level, but also closely related to the individual's lifestyle, genetic factors, and social environment.
Therefore, when we enjoy the pleasure of alcohol, we must have a clear boundary, that is, the right amount. This "appropriate amount" is not a static standard, but should be comprehensively judged based on various factors such as personal health status, family medical history, and lifestyle habits.