I’m an avid reader. I devour gossip columns, biographies and everything in between. And more often than not, a study that could affect me as a woman or a mother grabs my attention. So every Thursday I’ll be bringing you the 411 on the latest studies and, of course, giving you my two cents!
Recently, I was reading Shape and I came across a blurb about a Harvard study that shows women should drink. Apparently, women who imbibe just five to seven drinks a week are 20 percent more likely to be in good health later in life than those who don’t drink any alcohol at all. Come again? Did I read that right?
There are many nights that I curl up with a glass of wine and an episode of bad reality TV like The Bachelor and feel guilty. I should be a million other things- laundry, dishes, did I mention laundry? At least now I can rationalize that I’m ignoring the ever-growing mound of soiled clothing in order to maintain good health!
The lead author of the study, Qi Sun, M.D., says alcohol improves cholesterol and insulin response and reduces inflammation, which can lower the risk of illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Of course this must all be in moderation–if you drink over 7 drinks a week, then it’s no longer considered healthy and you can actually increase your odds for certain conditions, including breast cancer–another important fact not to be ignored.
Is it wrong that I’m happy to read this study? That if I feel bad for not drinking green tea I can imagine some guy in a lab coat inside of an ivy covered building in Boston and smile?
Hey ladies, Let’s raise our glasses to Harvard!
Disclaimer: This is only my interpretation of the study, of course. I’m quite sure Dr. Qi Sun would tell me that I should get my booty into that laundry room and wash those dirty clothes!
