Doctors should not advise on red wine benefits, AHA claims
tell their patients that drinking red wine is an effective way to
reduce the possibility...
The American Heart Association (AHA) has advised US doctors not to tell their patients that drinking red wine is an effective way to reduce the possibility of a heart attack. Professor Ira Goldberg, of Columbia University in New York City and a member of the AHA's nutrition committee, said: "We want to make clear that there are other risk-reduction options that are well-documented and free of the potential hazards associated with alcohol consumption." Professor Goldberg said patients who wanted to reduce their risk of heart disease should talk to their doctor about lowering their cholesterol and blood pressure, controlling their weight, getting enough exercise and following a healthy diet. The AHA advice does concede, however, that more than 60 studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can increase blood levels of 'good' high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The full report from the AHA can be found in the January issue of its journal Circulation.
