[hamster-bamster]

I keep hearing all about the good things moderate drinking (for a woman or a man >65 y, one 5 oz glass of wine a day, for a younger man, 2 glasses) can bring about as we age. I wrote to my GP and she thought it would be fine but I need to run it by the p-doc. I know from experience that drinking does not affect my mood and does not affect how my medications work. Wine is not very expensive where I live and there do exist wines which I rather like, although I am perfectly wine living without alcohol. So I will run it by the p-doc but in the meantime I am wondering if anyone is drinking in moderation for health and how it affects you if at all.

[lynn P.]

Personally I don't believe a person has to drink to get the health benefits. For example a person can get the same ingredient benefit from deep grape juice. If it agrees with you, then its up to you. There are many psych meds that don't go well with fermented alcohol. One day medical association says moderate use is good and then they say a woman who drinks doubles her chance of breast cancer. Probably green tea is better. Good luck with your decision.

[hamster-bamster]

I am at a slightly increased risk for BC - my mom died from it but I am not a carrier of BRCA genes, so the GP says drinking is fine. I do take Resveratrol as a supplement which is probably similar to drinking grape juice, but there are benefits purely from alcohol as opposed to Resveratrol alone.

[faerie_moon_x]

I don't drink often because everything tastes like rubbing alcohol to me. I was just drunk for the first time ever in May of this year. (and I'm 33.)

I do think there are health benefits perhaps but there are also risks. It's just like people who eat soy. I avoid soy as much as possible. It is a known cause of breast cancer. but some people swear by it. It's there choice to take the risks.

Everything is risk, so you just have to weigh out the reward from it.

[abience]

I don't know if you have already been drinking, but I've been told it's not good to drink while on many of the psychotropic medications that are out there. I know I've tried a drink twice and I get severe flushing all over from it. My face gets so red people get worried. And that's with Geodon, so be careful.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by dark_heart_x

I avoid soy as much as possible.

I avoid soy, too. But I also do not like it, so it is easy for me.

[Thoughtbubble]

I've heard certain antidepressants can mess up your liver themselves, ut that might just be tricyclic antidepressants.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Thoughtbubble

I've heard certain antidepressants can mess up your liver themselves, ut that might just be tricyclic antidepressants.

I take a negligible amount of a tricyclic AD, but thanks for warning me.

Oh my God! Drinking is on 'moderation', for health?! I never read that in the PC guidelines!

Havin' myself a double chocolate milkshake,

-Fleeing Bellocq

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

Personally I don't believe a person has to drink to get the health benefits. For example a person can get the same ingredient benefit from deep grape juice.

^^^^

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by fleeingbellocq

Oh my God! Drinking is on 'moderation', for health?! I never read that in the PC guidelines!

Havin' myself a double chocolate milkshake,

-Fleeing Bellocq

Chocolate is good for the mood and has a high antioxidant content if it is dark, milk is good for the bones, alcohol in moderation is good for your heart and as a stroke preventative and helps ward off Alzheimer's (read this). This is important to me because now that I have dealt with suicidal tendencies, I am looking at the prospect of living a long life, so prevention of Alzheimer's and remaning functional and independent into my old age is an important long-term concern. All my grandparents lived well into the old age which gives me a high life expectancy. I do not smoke, have low cholesterol and low blood sugar and low blood pressure, do not engage in prolonged sitting (which slashes two years off the life expectancy) -- all of those good things also favor a longer life. My mother did not live a long life - she died of metastatic breast cancer, BUT: 1) I had children early and breastfed for the total of 8 years which lowers my risk of BC 2) I got tested and I am not a carrier of BRCA so I am not high risk for BC 3) If I find a lump, my GP will get an email that very second, while my mom, irrationally, waited with reporting her lump for a YEAR. Early detection = better prognosis. So with my good outlook with respect to breast cancer, Alzheimer's prevention looms large. Heart disease - probably not so important because I have BELOW normal cholesterol; stroke - probably not so important because I have always had low blood pressure and I eat a low sodium diet because I have always liked it; Alzheimer's prevention is very important. Walking helps prevent Alzheimer's, too.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Yoda

^^^^

No, it is the alcohol itself - see the link about Alzheimer's in my previous post. Anything - beer, liquor, wine - would do. The reason I talked about wine in my OP is because if I have to choose from among different forms of alcohol, I would choose wine - more often, red, and less often (with fish), white. I hate beer.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

No, it is the alcohol itself - see the link about Alzheimer's in my previous post. Anything - beer, liquor, wine - would do. The reason I talked about wine in my OP is because if I have to choose from among different forms of alcohol, I would choose wine - more often, red, and less often (with fish), white. I hate beer.

oh okay

I hadn't heard that. I have read that red wine provides more health benefits than white wine.

So vodka has health benefits? Yay!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Yoda

oh okay

I hadn't heard that. I have read that red wine provides more health benefits than white wine.

That is true, because the skin of the dark grapes sits in the fermenting process for longer, but the basic benefit of alcohol - prevention of heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's - is provided by the alcohol itself in whatever form you choose to drink it, in moderation. So red wine just gets you better mileage, but any alcohol would do. I happen to prefer red wine so it is easy for me.

[finlay]

Well I think if you are going along this line, especially trying to prevent Alzheimer and staying healthy to live a long life you should not get too stuck on alcohol. Its good to know it isn't too bad for you so you can enjoy it in moderation but if you are actively seeking something to help you should look at green tea.
I know green tea is not to everyones taste but after the benefits of green tea I'll give you a tip how it'll taste great .

So here are the benefits of green tea:
1. Weight Loss: It increases your metabolism. The phylenol increseas the fat oxidization
2. Its good for people with Diabetes.
3. Heart Diseases: Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.
4. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.
5. Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers
6. And Green Tea is really really good for your immune system. Antibody production is being boosted by green tea. The antibodies IgA and IgD are produced on a larger scale and give you a better protection from the common cold, flu and cough.

Now since I've been all for the benefits of green tea i know a lot of people don't like the taste. Usually I make my green tea loose leaved since it is fresher and not as processed as the bag alternative. Try your tea with a hint of lemon juice and a bit of natural honey. It tastes great and is very refreshing.

[hamster-bamster]

I just started on green tea yesterday, to boost the metabolism. It is good to know that it would help with other things as well.

[hamster-bamster]

I got inpatient. Didn't want to wait for three more weeks to see my p-doc about it. Asked my p-doc friend, who basically said that unless I take benzos, alcohol in moderation is OK. I do not take benzos any more and never plan to resume benzos in my life. He said with Lithium it is OK. I know he is biased because he enjoys alcohol himself, but that was good enough for me. I know my medications work just as well when I drink a bit.

So I went to my grocery store and bought a random bottle of Pinot Noir. In the past, way before the dx, I liked Pinot Noir. Well, this bottle is bad. Not horrible - I will finish it eventually, but I won't buy any more. And I do not know what happened - did I stop liking Pinot Noir or is this particular one that does not agree with me?

I really need to go to Trader Joe's for cheap wine.

I ate less food for dinner since wine has calories.

That's all from me.