This daily habit could lower your heart attack risk by 50%–here’s how
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Heart health is something we all think about, but recent findings could change the way we approach prevention.
What if a daily habit could actually be more effective than some of the most common medications for reducing your heart attack risk?
This discovery has left experts buzzing, and the implications could reshape how we think about heart health in everyday life.
For wine enthusiasts, recent research has offered some encouraging news: drinking a glass a day could actually be more effective than statins at reducing the risk of heart attacks.
A study showed that moderate wine consumption, as part of a Mediterranean diet, could reduce this risk by up to 50 per cent.
This is a significant finding, especially since many previous studies on wine's heart-health benefits relied on self-reported data.
This new study, however, is the first to accurately measure alcohol consumption using urine samples. The 1,232 participants provided samples at the start of the study, and again a year later, with follow-up over four to five years.
During this period, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at the University of Barcelona found that people who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine a month had a 50 per cent lower risk of heart disease compared to those who drank no more than one glass a month.
In comparison, statins reduced the risk by about 30 per cent.
Interestingly, the benefits of wine consumption were found to diminish for those who drank more than the recommended amount.
This study came on the heels of a 2022 statement from the World Health Federation (WHF), which acknowledged that wine contains antioxidants with potential health benefits, but stressed that studies linking wine to heart health were mostly 'observational'.
Monika Arora from the WHF pointed out that ‘the portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use, as have the frequent claims that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, can offer protection against cardiovascular disease’.
She added that: 'these claims are at best misinformed and at worst an attempt by the alcohol industry to mislead the public about the danger of their product.'
Meanwhile, Matt Lambert from the Portman Group, which represents the drinks industry, stressed that ‘it is important not to exaggerate the risk of moderate drinking and unduly alarm responsible consumers who enjoy alcohol sensibly’.
Some wine drinkers have voiced concerns about ‘nanny state’ warnings, such as those from former Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies. In 2016, she shared that women should ‘do as I do’ and consider the risks of breast cancer each time they reach for a glass of wine.
She later admitted that she had chosen her words poorly.
This study adds to the ongoing conversation about alcohol and health, suggesting that while moderate wine consumption can offer benefits, it’s important to remain mindful of the amount consumed.
With this new research, it might just be the heart-healthy habit you’ve been looking for. What do you think–could moderate drinking be the key to a longer, healthier life? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What if a daily habit could actually be more effective than some of the most common medications for reducing your heart attack risk?
This discovery has left experts buzzing, and the implications could reshape how we think about heart health in everyday life.
For wine enthusiasts, recent research has offered some encouraging news: drinking a glass a day could actually be more effective than statins at reducing the risk of heart attacks.
A study showed that moderate wine consumption, as part of a Mediterranean diet, could reduce this risk by up to 50 per cent.
This is a significant finding, especially since many previous studies on wine's heart-health benefits relied on self-reported data.
This new study, however, is the first to accurately measure alcohol consumption using urine samples. The 1,232 participants provided samples at the start of the study, and again a year later, with follow-up over four to five years.
During this period, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at the University of Barcelona found that people who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine a month had a 50 per cent lower risk of heart disease compared to those who drank no more than one glass a month.
In comparison, statins reduced the risk by about 30 per cent.
Interestingly, the benefits of wine consumption were found to diminish for those who drank more than the recommended amount.
This study came on the heels of a 2022 statement from the World Health Federation (WHF), which acknowledged that wine contains antioxidants with potential health benefits, but stressed that studies linking wine to heart health were mostly 'observational'.
Monika Arora from the WHF pointed out that ‘the portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use, as have the frequent claims that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, can offer protection against cardiovascular disease’.
She added that: 'these claims are at best misinformed and at worst an attempt by the alcohol industry to mislead the public about the danger of their product.'
Meanwhile, Matt Lambert from the Portman Group, which represents the drinks industry, stressed that ‘it is important not to exaggerate the risk of moderate drinking and unduly alarm responsible consumers who enjoy alcohol sensibly’.
Some wine drinkers have voiced concerns about ‘nanny state’ warnings, such as those from former Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies. In 2016, she shared that women should ‘do as I do’ and consider the risks of breast cancer each time they reach for a glass of wine.
She later admitted that she had chosen her words poorly.
This study adds to the ongoing conversation about alcohol and health, suggesting that while moderate wine consumption can offer benefits, it’s important to remain mindful of the amount consumed.
With this new research, it might just be the heart-healthy habit you’ve been looking for. What do you think–could moderate drinking be the key to a longer, healthier life? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
