Time to change my handle from PV77 to Einstein ;)
Healthy Einstein, actually.
From the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=SC00024
Alcohol and your health: Weighing the pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staff
For every news story you read about the benefits of alcohol, another seems to warn you of the risks. The conflicting information can be confusing and frustrating.
Though it's unclear whether alcohol's health benefits outweigh its risks, what is certain is that anything more than moderate drinking — two drinks a day if you're a man or one drink a day if you're a woman — can negate any benefits alcohol has on your body.
So should you avoid alcohol? Or can you continue to enjoy your glass of wine with dinner? It's up to you and your doctor. Here are some points for you to consider.
Pros
Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It can:
Reduce your risk of developing heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and intermittent claudication
Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
Reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
Lower your risk of gallstones
Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes
Cons
Excess alcohol consumption can lead to serious health problems, such as:
Cancer, such as gastrointestinal, oral, pharynx, larynx, esophageal and liver cancers, as well as breast cancer in women
Chronic pancreatitis, especially in people with high levels of triglycerides in their blood
Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood
High blood pressure
Miscarriage
Injuries due to impaired motor skills
Sudden death in people with cardiovascular disease
Heart failure
Stroke
Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver
Fetal alcohol syndrome in an unborn child, including slow growth and nervous system problems
Suicide