Alcohol as a Key Ingredient to a Healthy Diet
Dr. John Rumberger

Evidence suggesting that alcohol is “cardio-protective” first appeared in the literature about 30 years ago. The Framingham Heart Study [the longest running population study of heart disease which began in 1948] provided the first solid evidence of this association. The relationship has now been confirmed by dozens of large population [“epidemiological”] studies. However, physicians have been reluctant to recommend alcohol consumption to patients because of the well-known health consequences of excessive drinking [hypertension, liver disease, increased rates of cancer, violent or accidental death] and the horrors that are associated with “drinking and driving”.
Moderation is the key. Many large studies have found that men and women who consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol per day live longer than those who abstain completely. The Physicians’ Health Study involved long term follow-up of 89,300 men. The study found that men who drank five or six alcoholic drinks per week had a 20% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who drank no alcohol. On the other hand, the same study showed that men who had more than two alcoholic drinks per day had a higher risk of death than nondrinkers. That means that, when drinking moderately, it appears to be quite beneficial; however, higher alcohol intake increases the risks of cancer and motor vehicle accidents so much as to overwhelm any cardiovascular benefits.
How does alcohol protect the heart? A large portion of the benefit may be attributable to increased levels of HDL [“good] cholesterol. Alcohol also has “antiplatelet” effects [making these natural blood elements less sticky and then less likely to clog arteries during plaque rupture] in much the same way as aspirin.
Moderate alcohol consumption may also help improve insulin resistance, which is just about one step below true diabetes and recognized as another independent predictor for cardiac risk. The Physicians’ Health Study also showed that in subjects who consumed alcohol daily, the risk for heart disease was reduced by 60% in diabetic patients, compared to a 40% decrease in persons who did not have diabetes. Moderate alcohol intake also decreases blood values for CRP [C-reactive protein], a metabolic marker for inflammation (elevated when you are in an increased state of oxidative stress).
The jury is still out as to whether or not wine provides a better protective effect compared to other forms of alcohol. Red wine is rich in flavonoids, which slow down oxidation of LDL [“bad”] cholesterol [which is one of the last steps before it is deposited in your artery wall]. One recent study suggested that light drinkers who avoided wine reduce their risk of all-cause mortality by 10%, while light drinkers who preferred wine had more than a 30% decrease in this risk. However, other studies have found that all forms of alcohol [beer, whiskey, etc.] were equally protective.
It is important to emphasize that alcohol [of ANY kind!] should be limited to one drink daily for women and at most two drinks daily for men [this is based merely on general body size and nothing else]. One drink is defined as 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (such as whisky, gin, and vodka), 5 oz of wine, or 12 oz of beer. Patients who have liver disease, who have a personal or family history of alcohol abuse, or who cannot limit their intake in a responsible manner should NOT start! However, since “all things in moderation” is a good adage for much of life, others can enjoy a daily alcoholic drink as part of a generally healthy diet.
Disclaimer: If you are under 18, pregnant, nursing or have health problems, consult your physician before starting any weight loss plan. The information here is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.

About the Author

Dr. John Rumberger is the Author of The WAY Diet, The complete lifestyle plan to live longer, reduce stress, and lose weight the healthy way. To purchase The Way Diet simply go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?path=
ASIN/0974993387&link_code=as2&camp=1789&tag=icobweb-20&creative=9325 or go to Empty Canoe Publishing http://www.emptycanoe.com and order your copy of The Way.

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One of the new diet programs that are being introduced in the market right now is the detox diet. The name detox is a shortened form of the word detoxification, which lies at the heart of the program.

The diet makes use of the bodys natural system of neutralizing and eliminating the various toxins that the body takes in. As an internal protective system, the body converts any material that may seem harmful to the body into a chemical form that is less dangerous.

Toxins can take several forms depending on what is taken into the body. Examples of harmful toxins are external chemicals like pesticides and household cleaners that are accidentally ingested; food additives, drugs and other food materials that may affect the body in a bad way; and of course cigarettes. Some toxins come from the body such as ammonia, a chemical produced when proteins are broken down during digestion. Because of the ingrained system, all these toxins no longer stay in the body and are excreted and flushed out in the form of stools or urine.

Basically, the term detox diet is used in the treatment of people who have become dependent on drugs and alcohol; but now with the birth of various kinds of diets, the term is used to any diet that helps in detoxifying the body.

The diet itself focuses on taking in foods that provide vitamins, nutrients and other chemicals such as anti-oxidants that help the body purify itself. There is also much emphasis on lessening or reducing the chemicals that are being taken inside the body. This is why many people under detox diet prefer to eat organic food.

Another technique with the detox diet is the emphasis on high fibers and water to help the body get rid of the toxins.

People undergoing detox diet will experience headache during the first few days. Some may also suffer from excessive diarrhea so it is important to watch out for dehydration. There is also a risk if constipation if not enough water is taken in.

Detox diet however is not for people who have anemia, diabetes and heart disease. It is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or those people who are suffering from kidney problems, liver disease, underweight issues and ulcer. People with low blood pressure, low immunity, hypothyroidism and epilepsy are also discouraged to go under a detox diet.

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