While the coffee-versus-tea debate is still ongoing, most doctors would agree that some types of drinks are best avoided altogether. However, new research just might challenge that notion.
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.
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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.
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The Unexpected Beverage That May Help Lower Cholesterol
Their findings? They are genuinely very surprising: It seems that alcohol consumption is associated with lower cholesterol.
More specifically, the researchers found that people who started drinking alcohol over the course of the study experienced a decrease in LDL-C (“bad” cholesterol) and an increase in HDL-C levels (“good” cholesterol). Conversely, people who quit drinking actually showed an increase in bad cholesterol and a decrease in the good.
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.”
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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.
On a broader level, it’s important to note that no, one type of alcohol isn’t inherently “healthier” than another. No, not even red wine. Sorry!
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Does This Mean Alcohol is Healthy?
While these findings are interesting, they do not mean that alcohol is “healthy” or particularly good for you. In fact, the study pointed out that while alcohol might be associated with increased “good” cholesterol, it’s also linked to other serious health risks like increased triglycerides, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
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.
Finally, the study explicitly stated the obvious: Alcohol’s health risks outweigh any potential cholesterol benefits, since it still poses significant health risks like liver disease, cancer and heart problems.
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.
Might we recommend a cup of yerba maté instead?
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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.
