Drinking up to a bottle a wine a day can cut the risk of heart disease, says a controversial new study.
The research, published in the journal Heart, found that the risk of coronary heart disease, or CHD, decreases as alcohol consumption increases.
Dr. Larraitz Arriola, author of the study, found that drinking up to 11 units – or a bottle of red wine – reduced the risk of developing heart disease by 50%.
The study was conducted in Spain, which has one of the lowest death rates from coronary heart disease.
This is not the first time medical practicioners have openly promoted the benefits of red wine.
In 2003, Dr William McCrea of the Great Western Hospital in Swindon hit the headlines after admitting prescribing two glasses of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon a day to 400 cardiac patients for two years.
Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, warned people not to see this latest research as an excuse to binge drink.
‘At the end of the day, you’re juggling different risks and benefits, maybe helping your heart or maybe damaging your brain and liver.
‘The simple message is moderation.’
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Written by John Abbott
