Gaby
According to researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Sydney, drinking small to moderate amounts of alcohol may reduce inflammation in the body. But they warned that regular heavy drinking can cause serious health problems.
An old saying claims you can drink away your pain. New research suggests there’s some truth to that: the study found that having seven glasses of wine, or the equivalent amount of beer, per week was not harmful.
This level of drinking may help reduce stress, and stress is a key driver of inflammation. Drinking modestly could therefore lower inflammation, the Daily Mail reports.
The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK recommends limiting alcohol to no more than 14 units per week, spread over three or more days. That’s roughly six pints of beer or ten small glasses of wine.
How the Study Was Conducted
The research team surveyed 3,101 adult Britons about their alcohol consumption and overall health.
All participants reported their alcohol use when they were between 34 and 42 years old. That age range is typically when back pain related to rheumatism and arthritis often begins to appear.
Participants aged 46 and older provided blood samples to measure levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the body.
High C-reactive protein levels indicate inflammation in blood vessels, tissues, and organs, and they also serve as a marker for musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis. Inflammation is also linked to asthma and gastrointestinal diseases, and it raises the risk of stroke, heart attack, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiovascular problems.
The study found the lowest C-reactive protein levels in people who consumed an average of seven units of alcohol per week. Those levels were lower than in non-drinkers and in people who consumed about 30 units per week.
The study suggests that, for inflammation, small amounts of alcohol might be more beneficial than complete abstinence. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
The authors urged caution in interpreting the findings. They warned that long-term heavy drinking can raise blood pressure and cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Alcohol can also cause liver disease, certain cancers, and brain damage.
