7 reasons you should drink alcohol more often

Binge-drinking on the weekends (and sometimes during the week) is second nature to many. 

While alcohol abuse will definitely deteriorate one’s mental and physical health, drinking moderately is  actually great for your health.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, “moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days”.

Here are the ways alcohol can be beneficial to your health.

Flat tummy

When regularly consumed in moderation, alcohol can actually help fight off fat.

A 2010 study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who had one or two drinks a day were less likely to gain weight than those who shunned the sauce.

Women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol tend to eat less food, particularly carbohydrates, according to Lu Wang, lead researcher on the study and an instructor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Cardiovascular health

The School of Public Health at Harvard University found that “moderate amounts of alcohol raises levels of high-density lipoprotein, HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol and higher HDL levels are associated with greater protection against heart disease”.

Increase lifespan

Drink more and live longer.

A study by the Catholic University of Campobasso reported that drinking less than four or two drinks per day for men and women respectively could reduce the risk of death by 18 percent, as reported by Reuters.

Reduce risk of diabetes

A drink a day keeps diabetes away? Surprisingly, it can help.

A 2005 report published in Diabetes Care found that moderate amounts of alcohol reduces risk of having type 2 diabetes by up to 30 percent. One drink a day is advised for women, and up to two drinks a day for men.

Increased libido

Alcohol has the ability to protect men against erectile dysfunction.

In a 2009 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers found that the chances of erectile dysfunction were reduced by 25 to 30 percent among alcohol drinkers.

Increased brainpower

It’s easy to assume that alcohol messes up your brain but that’s only when it’s consumed in excess.

Researchers from Loyola University found that moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia compared to non-drinkers.

Prevents against the common cold

The Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University found that while susceptibility to the common cold was increased by smoking, moderate alcohol consumption led to a decrease in common cold cases for nonsmokers.