Could one be more than two?

In the June issue of Harvard Men’s Health Letter, it was reported that, “Men who drink moderate amounts of red wine are only half as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as those who don’t drink it at all”. So what is ‘moderate’? Two, three, four glasses or more? The Harvard report warns that if “one glass a day is good, don’t assume that two glasses are twice as good”. We know from previous studies that the benefits of red wine and those who drink a modest amount of alcohol can benefit from a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction. Harvard now has three studies to back this up.

According to the data in this study, scientists separated the effects of beer, white wine and red wine. Drinking beer, eight years or longer actually increased risk of getting the cancer. White wine had no benefits but four to seven glasses of red a week showed that 52 percent were less likely to get prostate cancer than nondrinkers.

More clinical research is warranted in this department but there are cumulative studies to prove red wine has health benefits. So next time you are contemplating on what to drink with dinner, think red and remember one is more than two.