A Toast for Good Health!
Santé!
Salute!
Za vashe zdorovye!
Chuc suc khoe!
Good health!
Men often utter these words as they toast before a drink. Paradoxically, alcohol has had a bad reputation much like drunkards. Such is gained because of alcohol’s harmful effects to health. It can cause damage to brain, vision- speech coordination, throat, mouth, liver, heart, pancreas, immune system, and even unborn children. A heavy drinker may, in time, develop brain cell loss, memory loss, depression and aggressive behavior. He or she can also develop cancer in different essential parts of the body; suffer from heart muscle weakness and heart failure; end up with cirrhosis; and or give birth to a deformed or retarded baby.
Where has “good health” gone then? Has it simply faded into a meaningless toast? No. Nothing changed. Its bad reputation came because there are people who abuse its use. Moderate drinking, on the other hand, still proves to have health benefits. People in Dickies uniforms, experts in medicine, as well as old fellows well know about this.
In June 2008, a Scandinavian research was published, saying alcohol consumption reduces risk of rheumatoid arthritis is decreased by 40 to 50 percent. Today, July 27, 2010, a research on alcohol effects and RA supporting the previous study was published the U.K. journal rheumatology. It suggests that non-drinkers were four times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who drink alcohol on more than 10 days in a month. The reason is suspected to have been enabled by testosterone, potentially having inflammation-fighting effects.
Moderate alcohol consumption is also believed to have heart benefits. It can reduce risk of developing peripheral vascular disease, heart disease and intermittent claudication. Scientists suspect that red wine has chemicals called polyphenols that inhibit a blood vessel constriction-causing chemical. It could also possibly reduce risk of strokes as it is believed to increase levels of good cholesterol, while being able to reduce substances that cause blood clots.
The health benefits of moderate drinking or sensible alcohol intake goes on, including reduced risk of gallstones, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, hepatitis A, osteoporosis, dementia, digestive ailments, as well as stress and depression.
Bible, the book that teaches a lot about morality, mistaken to condemn alcohol, also speaks of moderate alcohol intake benefits. 1 Timothy 5:23 says of Paul telling Timothy not to “drink water any longer, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness.” Further, Proverbs 31:6, 7 mentions that alcohol has an ability to help one to endure distress. Nonetheless, it does not condone intoxication and drunkenness.
Let’s toast! For good health!
