Can drinking Alcohol help you live a longer life?

We are all aware that drinking alcohol has been proven to have many adverse effects on the human body. Under a recent study however the answer gets a bit more interesting...

Claudia Kawas a neurologist at the University of California led a study that tracked more than 1,600 people who drink a glass of wine or two beers a day. Findings shocked a lot of people as the results showed they are 18 percent less likely to die prematurely. The same study then showed that people who exercise 15 minutes to 45 minutes a day only cut their odds by 11 percent.

"I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity," Kawas said at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference.

The study was called the 90+ study and was held at the UC Irvine’s Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders. The participants were visited every six months by researchers who performed neurological, cognitive and physical tests. They also collected information about diet, medical history, activity levels and numerous other factors. The goal was to look into which lifestyle practices offered people the best longevity in life and to further our understanding of how each person’s lifestyle directly effects their lifespan.

We do need to remember that consuming large quantities of alcohol does have negative consequences so this isn’t a que to drink yourself under the table in search of immortality. Alcohol being highly calorific contributing to weight gain. Instead this is a slight nod to make you feel a little less worried about having the odd glass with friends.