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Study: Abstaining from alcohol significantly shortens life
New research shows that those who imbibe are less likely to die prematurely than those who stay dry.
Tue, Aug 31 2010 at 1:53 PM
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Photo: Al404/Flickr
A newly released study shows that regular drinkers are less likely to die prematurely than people who have never indulged in alcohol. You read that right: Time reports that abstaining from alcohol altogether can lead to a shorter life than consistent, moderate drinking.
Surprised? The tightly controlled study, which looked at individuals between ages 55 and 65, spanned a 20-year period and accounted for variables ranging from socioeconomic status to level of physical activity. Led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin, it found that mortality rates were highest for those who had never had a sip, lower for heavy drinkers, and lowest for moderate drinkers who enjoyed one to three drinks per day.
Of the 1,824 study participants, only 41 percent of the moderate drinkers died prematurely compared to a whopping 69 percent of the nondrinkers. Meanwhile, the heavy drinkers fared better than those who abstained, with a 60 percent mortality rate. Despite the increased risks for cirrhosis and several types of cancer, not to mention dependency, accidents and poor judgment associated with heavy drinking, those who imbibe are less likely to die than people who stay dry.
A possible explanation for this is that alcohol can be a great social lubricant, and strong social networks are essential for maintaining mental and physical health. Nondrinkers have been shown to demonstrate greater signs of depression than their carousing counterparts, and in addition to the potential heart health and circulation benefits of moderate drinking (especially red wine), it also increases sociability.
While it’s always important to drink responsibly, this is one study that warrants raising a glass.
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Then show us "numerous empirical studies" and not just a few funded by the beer and wine industry and some bs on the internet.
Self-fulfilling prophesy aside, if a person is a true alcoholic, one drink is not enough. Maybe you can stop, but some people can't. Try and get an ex-smoker to smoke a cigarette. Chances are, they are one cigarette away from a pack a day.
Began what? Began drinking? These numbers are just plain silly. Only the rare bird would suggest that moderate drinking is a viable path for otherwise sober alcoholic. The biologic good effects of alcoholic would be lost to abuse of alcohol very quickly. Those of us who choose not to drink do not deny its good effects, we know that we have to get those good effects so other way.
Began what? Began drinking? These numbers are just plain silly. Only the rare bird would suggest that moderate drinking is a viable path for otherwise sober alcoholic. The biologic good effects of alcoholic would be lost to abuse of alcohol very quickly. Those of us who choose not to drink do not deny its good effects, we know that we have to get those good effects so other way.
Began what? Began drinking? These numbers are just plain silly. Only the rare bird would suggest that moderate drinking is a viable path for otherwise sober alcoholic. The biologic good effects of alcoholic would be lost to abuse of alcohol very quickly. Those of us who choose not to drink do not deny its good effects, we know that we have to get those good effects so other way.
One of my favorite experiences about traveling in Japan was using the telephones really late at night to call home (it was the only time my mom was awake!) and seeing all the business men stumble home. My Japanese wasn't good enough to understand their drunken slurs, but they were always laughing, smiling and having a very good time. Laughing is the key to longevity!
Interesting study. I think it's important to remember keeping it in perspective -- all things in moderation!
maybe people who drink moderately are just more relaxed in there personality compared to the neurotic stress prone worryers who obsessively avoid unhealthy activities.
its easy to asume from the study that alcohol is healthy in itself, but there could be a million different reasons.
I'm all for a few drinks once in awhile but up to three per day. Someone stands to profit from this and it may or may not be the person doing the imbibing. However produers of wine, beer, and more potent spirits are certainly going to love the results of the study. So who funded this research? I don't think it was Alcoholics Anonymous!
This study was funded by the federal government, not by Budweiser or any other alcohol beverage producer.
the government gets to tax it fool.
I love a good government conspiracy theory but it has to be at least somewhat believable. The government gets away with heavily taxing things like cigarettes, alcohol, and gambling because they are perceived to be bad for us. Voters don't frown as heavily on disproportionately high "sin taxes" as they do other forms of taxation. Studies like this one eat away at the logical foundation of such taxes.
Who cares about the study...the comments provided me with an enormous amount of entertainment. Especially the part about the "english teacher." Maybe thats why he was a teacher in Japan....because the highschool kids were too smart.
Not DaVinci that declared the Earth around the Sun theory....
copernicus discovered the earth revolved around the sun, as opposed to the tychonian view of a geocentric solar system (everything revolves around the earth.) and neither has anything to do with the flat earth society, it was magellan who sailed around the world to prove that one wrong. (a feat which columbus thought he accomplished, but we all know that.)
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