DRINK YOUR WAY TO GOOD HEALTH

Alcohol may halve your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to researchers. They found that those who drink up to ten units a week reduce their risk of the disease by 50 percent. A unit is roughly equivalent to a glass of wine or a small beer.
Previous studies have indicated that moderate drinking may have a beneficial role in heart disease, stroke, some form of cancer and perhaps Alzheimer’s.
The latest research was presented recently at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona. Henrik Kallberg, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said his research showed that consuming three or more units was associated with 50 percent drop in the risk in developing rheumatoid arthritis.
That was enough to offset the risk of developing the disease caused by smoking or genetic factors. According to his analysis of 2,075 Swedes with and without the crippling joint disorder. He said it is likely that alcohol suppressed the immune system and damped down the inflammatory process behind the condition. He said, “These data now show not only that alcohol can protect against rheumatoid arthritis and reduce the risk conferred by smoking or susceptible genes, but also gives an idea of doses necessary.”