Alcohol and Healthy Hearts

Scientists have known that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can prevent heart attacks, but a recent study of 38,000 men suggests that how often a man imbibes is more important than what or how much he drinks. As little as half an alcoholic drink a day can reduce the risk of heart attacks, whether the beverage is beer, red or white wine or liquor. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that men who drank at least three days a week had 33 percent fewer heart attacks than nondrinkers. Those who imbibed only once or twice a week had only a 16 percent lower risk. Researchers speculate that drinking a little bit of alcohol regularly helps keep blood cells from becoming sticky, thus helping prevent heart attacks.