Heart lifestyle risk factors--alcohol

“Excess alcohol use leads to an increase in blood pressure, and increases the risk for heart disease.  It also increases blood levels of triglycerides which contributes to atherosclerosis.”  http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/behavior.htm

Drs Roizen and Oz makes this recommendation regarding alcohol:  “If you don’t have a problem with alcohol, having one alcoholic drink a night (4 oz. wine, 12 oz. of beer of 1.5 oz. of spirits) for women-–up to two for men—seems to have a beneficial effect on your heart by raising levels of that healthy HDL cholesterol.  It also helps you to wind down, so your blood pressure can do the same.  Our preference: red wine, because it also contains antioxidants.”  Roizen, M, Oz, Mehmet, YOU Staying Young:  The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty, New York:  Simon and Schuster, 2007), 65.