Recent Studies on Heart Health

Some have asked me to provide evidence that alcohol is detrimental to one's health.
Here it is from the AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
From their web site;

Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease
Are there cardiovascular risks associated with drinking alcohol?
Drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood (triglycerides) (tri-GLIS'er-idz). It can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and an increased calorie intake. (Consuming too many calories can lead to obesity and a higher risk of developing diabetes.) Excessive drinking and binge drinking can lead to stroke. Other serious problems include fetal alcohol syndrome, cardiomyopathy (kar"de-o-mi-OP'ah-the), cardiac arrhythmia (ah-RITH'me-ah) and sudden cardiac death.
AHA Recommendation
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.) Drinking more alcohol increases such dangers as alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, suicide and accidents. Also, it's not possible to predict in which people alcoholism will become a problem. Given these and other risks, the American Heart Association cautions people NOT to start drinking ... if they do not already drink alcohol. Consult your doctor on the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation.
What about red wine and heart disease?
Over the past several decades, many studies have been published in science journals about how drinking alcohol may be associated with reduced mortality due to heart disease in some populations. Some researchers have suggested that the benefit may be due to wine, especially red wine. Others are examining the potential benefits of components in red wine such as flavonoids (FLAV'oh-noidz) and other antioxidants (an"tih-OK'sih-dants) in reducing heart disease risk. Some of these components may be found in other foods such as grapes or red grape juice. The linkage reported in many of these studies may be due to other lifestyle factors rather than alcohol. Such factors may include increased physical activity, and a diet high in fruits and vegetables and lower in saturated fats No direct comparison trials have been done to determine the specific effect of wine or other alcohol on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke.
Are there potential benefits of drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages?
Research is being done to find out what the apparent benefits of drinking wine or alcohol in some populations may be due to, including the role of antioxidants, an increase in HDL ("good") cholesterol or anti-clotting properties. Clinical trials of other antioxidants such as vitamin E have not shown any cardio-protective effect. Also, even if they were protective, antioxidants can be obtained from many fruits and vegetables, including red grape juice.
The best-known effect of alcohol is a small increase in HDL cholesterol. However, regular physical activity is another effective way to raise HDL cholesterol, and niacin can be prescribed to raise it to a greater degree. Alcohol or some substances such as resveratrol (res-VAIR'ah-trol) found in alcoholic beverages may prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together. That may reduce clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. (Aspirin may help reduce blood clotting in a similar way.) How alcohol or wine affects cardiovascular risk merits further research, but right now the American Heart Association does not recommend drinking wine or any other form of alcohol to gain these potential benefits. The AHA does recommend that to reduce your risk you should talk to your doctor about lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, controlling your weight, getting enough exercise and following a healthy diet. There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace these conventional measures.
What about alcohol and pregnancy?
Pregnant women shouldn't drink alcohol in any form. It can harm the baby seriously, including causing birth defects.
What about alcohol and aspirin?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that people who take aspirin regularly should not drink alcohol. Heart disease patients should stop drinking and keep taking aspirin if their doctor prescribed it for their heart condition. Patients should not stop taking aspirin without first talking to their doctor.
Related AHA publications:
An Eating Plan for Healthy Americans
Easy Food Tips for Heart-Healthy Eating (also in Spanish)
Detailed Research

AHA Scientific Statement: AHA Dietary Guidelines: Revision 2000, #71-0193 Circulation. 2000;102:2284-2299; Stroke. 2000;31:2751-2766
AHA Science Advisory: Alcohol and Heart Disease, #71-0097 Circulation. 1996;94:3023-3025
AHA Science Advisory: Wine and Your Heart, #71-0199 Circulation. 2001;103:472-475

Apparently if the American Heart Association recommends that you never start drinking alcohol then there either is not enough evidence or the evidence available proves it is in fact harmful to one's health. As stated in the article, the supposed benefits of even drinking wine for your health can be obtained from grapes or red grape juice. Hence, I still submit that Jesus never drank alcohol, nor did Paul advocate it's use. The "wine" of the Bible which is said to benefit a person is nothing other than red grape juice or its ancient Middle Eastern equivalent.

In HIS service (and yours);
Jim

 

Also from the American Heart Association's website:
Stroke Journal Report
12/05/2003
Moderate alcohol use may be associated with brain shrinkage
DALLAS, Dec. 5 – Consuming low to moderate amounts of alcohol may be linked to decreased brain size in middle-aged adults, according to a new study published in today’s rapid access issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
The new study also showed that low to moderate alcohol intake did not lower their stroke risk, as some previous studies found.
While chronic alcohol abuse has been associated with brain volume loss, this study suggests that even moderate alcohol intake may promote brain atrophy, said Jingzhong Ding, Ph.D., lead author and a research associate at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Brain atrophy may be associated with lower cognition and reduced extremity function.
Many studies have shown a strong correlation between heavy drinking and a higher risk of stroke and brain deterioration; however, evidence about the effects of low to moderate alcohol intake varies. Some studies have shown that alcohol intake is associated with reduced stroke risk in certain age groups, and others have found no correlation.
One study of people age 65 or older – the Cardiovascular Health Study – found that moderate alcohol intake was associated with fewer brain infarcts (dead tissue) and white matter lesions in the brain. However, moderate alcohol intake was also linked with brain atrophy (brain shrinkage).
Ding and colleagues from five other institutions assessed the relationship of alcohol intake with brain abnormalities in middle-aged adults. Cognitive decline is more common in older adults and alcohol consumption may change with aging. So, Ding felt that evaluating middle-aged adults could provide new evidence.
They used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure infarcts, changes in the inner matter of the brain known as white matter lesions, and brain atrophy. Infarcts and white matter lesions increase stroke risk.
The researchers randomly selected 2,821 participants, 55 years or older, from Forsyth County, N.C., and Jackson, Miss., who were participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective, community-based investigation into the cause and natural development of atherosclerosis. Researchers used baseline information collected between 1987–89 and conducted follow-up examinations every three years until 1995. Participants were asked to have a brain MRI examination between 1993–95. After excluding those not eligible or those who declined to participate, 1,909 middle-aged adults (22 percent white men, 18 percent black men, 29 percent white women and 32 percent black women) underwent a brain MRI. Neuroradiologists then identified the presence of infarction, the extent of white matter lesions, and ventricular and sulcal size – void areas of the brain containing only cerebrospinal fluid.
Participants self-reported alcohol consumption and were categorized into five groups: never drinkers, former drinkers, occasional drinkers (less than one drink per week), low drinkers (between one to six drinks per week), and moderate drinkers (seven to 14 drinks per week). Data on income, physical activity, cigarette smoking, cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke were also recorded.
In general, they found that as the level of alcohol intake increased, so did ventricular and sulcal size.
“There is no brain tissue in the ventricular and sulcal areas, as these areas are filled with cerebrospinal fluid,” Ding said. “Therefore, an increase in ventricular and sulcal size indicates a reduction in the brain tissue, or brain atrophy, around the ventricular and sulcal areas.”
Researchers observed no consistent association with infarction or white matter grade. Compared with never drinkers, former drinkers and moderate drinkers had higher odds of infarction without considering other factors. After adjusting for influencing factors, there was no protection from infarction associated with occasional or low drinking. There were also no consistent differences in white matter between current drinkers and never drinkers when looking at men and women and each racial group.
In general, both ventricular and sulcal size increased with higher alcohol intake among men, women, whites, and blacks, indicating a dose-response effect of alcohol consumption and brain atrophy. This finding suggests that the process might begin earlier in life than previously suggested.
However, the researchers note that the clinical significance of the small reduction of brain volume associated with moderate alcohol drinking is unknown.
“Because MRI measures in the brain were only conducted once during follow up, a causal relationship between alcohol intake and brain atrophy is difficult to establish,” Ding said. Regardless of that limitation, he said, “the strength of the study lies in the large population-based sample and the consistency of the findings by gender and race.”
“This study adds further to our knowledge concerning the effects of alcohol on the brain and provides new technology to investigate such issues,” said Edgar J. Kenton, III, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Stroke Association.
Co-authors are Marsha L. Eigenbrodt, M.D.; Thomas H. Mosley, Jr., Ph.D.; Richard G. Hutchinson, M.D.; Aaron R. Folsom, M.D.; Tamara B. Harris, M.D.; and F. Javier Nieto, M.D., Ph.D. The study was partly funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
NR03-1176 (Stroke/Ding)
####

Just another part of our anatomy which is adversely affected by alcohol consumption.

Hmmm...Do you suppose God knew all about this? Ya' think?

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Yep! So, the question remains.
Why drink at all? Its "benefits" are questionable, its damage ...obvious. Its risks are documented. And its evil is fact.

My wife and I have a whole catalogue of products available for healthy nutrition. Lose weight, protect your heart, increase energy (so you will WANT to excercise) and help others stay healthy. Great combination of health and income.

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Ge 9:3
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

But you knew that didn't you?

And you also knew that your question has nothing to do with the point of this thread, right?

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Also, it's not possible to predict in which people alcoholism will become a problem. Given these and other risks, the American Heart Association cautions people NOT to start drinking ... if they do not already drink alcohol.

Terry;
Apparently you miss this part of the article which was bolded on the website!
As donna pointed out, any "benefits" may be gotten from a healthy diet and excercise.
So No! it is not some crazy fundies idea!

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Alcott;
I have no idea how you can say my reasoning demands we be vegetarian since I provided you Scriptural proof that meat is approved of by God Himself.
For further proof see this:
Ac 10:12
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Ac 10:13
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
Ac 10:14
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Ac 10:15
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Of course, in order for you to continue in your unreasonable position you will discount this to say it doesn't mean that God has declared that we may eat meat. OK. Then this should convince you. (But I doubt you are willing to be convinced that God has declared meat acceptable since it is apparent you are determined to prove your unfounded charges against me.)
Ro 14:14
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

So we see by this passage alone, your charge is not only unfounded but uncharitable also. I have determined that alcoholic beverages are unclean. I am sharing what I find, not to tell you that you're are going to hell if you drink, but to show you what you are doing to yourself.

We also see that if you CHOOSE to use alcohol, you may indeed do so. However, I have shown that when you make that choice you are taking certain risks which are unwise to take. You have NOT shown how meat even relates to this since it is common knowledge that God has declared meat to be for food.

I would like for you to show me where I have retained the use of red meat and its fat. You have lied. Meat as you know is NOT confined to the bovine family. As a matter of fact, you know nothing of my eating habits, do you?

FYI; I eat more fish, pork and chicken than I do beef. AND! I remove the fat before cooking it. I also use pure olive oil for cooking anything.
So get off me brother. You are acting like the very "fanatical crazy fundies" some here are so vehemently and insanely ranting about.

Now; back to alcohol. Do you care to show how it is beneficial to one's health? Current studies have shown it is not, as once it was believed to be. Current studies have also shown based on the results so far that 1.) More study is needed: and 2.) it is recommended for one to never drink: further that 3.) the supposed benefits as once believed to be in wine are also available in a healthy diet to include red grapes and its juice (sans alcohol).
As Gold Dragon has pointed out, there is a definite relationship to brain damage and alcohol. It is dependant on the amount one uses. Moderate drinkers are at higher risk than never drinkers. Occasional drinkers are they who drink much less that two drinks of wine/day and don't seem to have as high a risk as moderate drinkers but more study is needed.
They who are proposing moderation do not know what they are talking about. I suspect they have bought the liberal news media's tripe.

Had you read the articles, perhaps you would not act so rabid.

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Yes, I know the context of the passage in Acts. That is why I provided additional Scripture.
And you also know that pre-flood diet has no bearing on our diet now. Everything was different at that time, diet, activity, atmosphere, etc...
You also know that God knew this and that is why He allows eating flesh post-flood.

"The key is in making proper choices."
Exactly my point TC!

In HIS service;
Jim

 

This was you was it not?

In HIS service;
Jim