Good news: Having a couple of beers with your buddies probably won’t hurt your health.
What it comes down to is how much and how often you drink.
It’s clear that drinking lots of alcohol can be very harmful.
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But there’s also some evidence that drinking small amounts can be good for you.
Having a couple of drinks may improve heart health.
This article goes over how much alcohol men can safely drink.
You’ll also learn the possible health benefits and risks of drinking alcohol.
How Much Alcohol Is Safe?
First, if you don’t drink, don’t start.
It’s true that drinking alcohol may have some health benefits.
But there are healthier ways to get the same benefits, like exercising.
But what does it actually mean?
For men, moderate drinking is two “standard” drinks or less per day.
A standard drink (also called drink-equivalent) is 14 grams of pure alcohol.
If your cocktail has two shots of liquor, it counts as two standard drinks.
The same goes for a pint of craft beer with 7% alcoholit’s closer to two standard drinks.
Just because moderate drinking allows up to two drinks per day doesn’t mean you should drink every day.
In fact, that’s when moderate drinking turns into binge drinking or heavy drinking.
For men, heavy drinking is having more than 14 drinks a week.
Recap
If you choose to drink alcohol, drink in moderation.
Men should have no more than two standard drinks a day, and less than 15 drinks a week.
Keep in mind that your drink might count as more than one standard drink.
Health Benefits of Alcohol
You might enjoy wine, beer, champagne, or liquor.
Whatever you prefer, moderate drinking could have some health benefits.
Drinking alcohol can increaseHDL(good) cholesterol and lower heart disease risk.
That explains why experts might say moderate drinking can be good for your heart.
Heavy drinking can have very negative effects on your brain, heart, liver, and pancreas.
Drinking in moderation may help protect your heart.
Moderate drinking is one or two standard drinks a day for men.
But drinking large amounts can be bad for your health.
Heavy drinking is 15 or more drinks a week for men.
This can increase your risk of certain cancers, liver disease, and heart disease.
Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about how much you’re drinking.
Drink less than 15 standard drinks per week.
Living a healthy lifestyle can give you the same benefits as moderate drinking.
Get medical help if you’re drinking too much and have trouble cutting back.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.
Chan School of Public Health.
The Nutrition Source.Alcohol: balancing risks and benefits.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s effects on the body.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding alcohol drinking patterns.
