Health: Another Reason To Drink (In Moderation)

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Bottoms up! According to a study in the journal Diabetes Care, there's a new benefit from indulging in a bit of the drink. People who consume moderate amounts of alcohol appear to be less likely to develop metabolic syndrome--a cluster of symptoms including a large waist, high blood pressure and low levels of good cholesterol--which can lead to diabetes and heart disease. In a study of 8,125 subjects, those who sipped up to 19 drinks a month were 35% less likely than nondrinkers to have the syndrome. Consuming more than 20 drinks a month--beer and wine only--led to a 66% smaller chance. But don't overdo it. In other research, metabolic syndrome was 60% more likely in heavy drinkers who downed at least four drinks a day than in one-a-day drinkers. --By Sora Song