According to a new study from Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo, one especially controversial beverage that's been long-dismissed as "unhealthy" (and, to be fair, with very good reason) might actually boast some unexpected health benefits.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study analyzed data from 57,691 adults who underwent annual health checkups over a 10-year period, focusing on two key groups: People who did not drink alcohol and then started and people who did drink and then quit.
Their findings? They are genuinely very surprising: It seems that alcohol consumption is associated with lower cholesterol.
The aforementioned changes were also more significant in people who consumed higher amounts of alcohol, though it's important to put that in context: Most of the participants were "light drinkers," meaning they had less than one drink a day, on average. "Heavy" drinkers, who saw the biggest improvements in cholesterol, were observed in participants who had 1.5 drinks per day or more—which still isn't ideal, but not as much as what some Americans might imagine as "heavy drinking."
Does the Type of Alcohol Matter?
After collecting data on beer, wine, whiskey, sake, shochu and other alcohol drinks, the researchers concluded that all types of alcohol had a similar impact on cholesterol levels, suggesting that the effects are likely due to the alcohol itself, rather than a specific type or brand of beverage consumed.
Related: The One Thing to Never Do if You Have High Cholesterol
What's more, any alcohol-induced boost in good cholesterol does not necessarily mean better heart health in the long-run. According to the researchers, simply raising HDL doesn't equate to a lower risk of heart disease, since factors like inflammation, oxidative stress, and triglyceride levels play a role as well.
Thus, the researchers concluded that despite any cholesterol improvement, public health recommendations should continue to emphasize the importance of drinking in moderation—if not quitting entirely.
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Related: This Controversial Beverage is Actually Good for Your Gut Health
Sources
"Lipid Profiles After Changes in Alcohol Consumption Among Adults Undergoing Annual Checkups." JAMA Network Open."The Effect of Alcohol on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Is There New Information?." Nutrients. Read More Details
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