alcohol how much should you drink
Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It may: 1  Reduce your risk of developing and dying from heart disease. 2  Possibly reduce your risk of ischemic stroke (when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow). Men can have two drinks a day, but women should have just one 12-ounce beer, or a five-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol, according to the Mayo Clinic. To do your body an even bigger favor, stick with red wine. Dozens of studies have suggested that moderate consumption of alcohol reduces the risk for heart disease. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as no more than one drink a day for women and two for men. A drink is defined as 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or a 12-ounce beer. Although a few studies have found that wine is more beneficial than beer or hard liquor, most have found that any type of alcohol in moderation may help. Answering these questions will take only a few minutes, and will give you personalized results based on your age, gender and drinking patterns. We will not share your answers or any information about you with anyone. The amount of alcohol a person can drink safely depends on the type of alcohol they consume. Generally, a serving size is considered to be: four ounces of wine, ten ounces of a wine cooler, twelve ounces of beer, or one and a half ounces of distilled liquor. Moderate alcohol use may be of most benefit if you're an older adult or if you have existing risk factors for heart disease. If you're a middle-aged or younger adult, some evidence shows that even moderate alcohol use may cause more harm than good. When it comes to drinking alcohol, the key is doing so only in moderation. Certainly, you don't have to drink any alcohol, and if you currently don't drink, don't start drinking for the possible health benefits. Alcohol use: If you drink, keep it moderate. Alcohol use can be a slippery slope. Moderate drinking can offer some health benefits. But heavy drinking can have serious consequences. Guidelines for moderate alcohol use. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. One drink contains 14 grams of alcohol, meaning one 12 oz beer (5% alcohol), one 5 oz glass of wine (12%), and one 1.5 oz of hard liquor (40% or 80 proof) are each one drink. It does appear that alcohol itself, and not the source, is responsible for the benefits.
Men can have two drinks a day, but women should have just one 12-ounce beer, or a five-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol.