A recent study from the National Academies suggests that moderate drinking, defined as one drink per day for women and up to two for men, may lower the risk of death by 16% compared to total abstinence. This finding highlights the potential health benefits of alcohol in moderation, specifically in its ability to induce a neurological shift from a sympathetic (fight or flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state, which can help people unwind and relax after a stressful day. However, excessive alcohol consumption can be harmful, as the body treats alcohol as a toxin.

While moderate drinking might offer health benefits, it's not recommended for non-drinkers to begin consuming alcohol for these reasons. There are alternative ways to achieve similar benefits, such as meditation, breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques. The type of alcohol consumed also matters, with options like clean red wine or clear spirits being better for health. Ultimately, the amount and type of alcohol that is beneficial depends on individual factors like body weight and composition.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

00:29 - Neurological Impact of Moderate Drinking

01:24 - Study Findings

01:45 - Alternatives to Drinking

02:37 - Type of Alcohol Matters

03:02 - Gender and Physiological Differences

03:48 - Conclusion

FOX NEWS Radio Host 1 [00:00:00] Moderate drinking actually lowers your risk of death. This comes from a major National Academies study.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 2 [00:00:07] Well, joining us on that Kogo News live line, Dr. Matt Chalmers, the author of Pillars of Wellness. Good morning, doctor.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:15] Morning. How are you guys?

FOX NEWS Radio Host 2 [00:00:17] We're okay. So talk to us about drinking. There's been so many studies back and forth, back and forth, A little bit of drinking. It's okay. No, it's not. Yes, it is. Why? No? Yes. What do you know?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:29] All right. So what we have to recognize is that moderation is obviously a thing. But when we invite people who drink on a daily basis or have a drink or kind of, they can empathize with that. When you have that one drink at the end of the day and you can kind of feel yourself unwind and you just kind of go, you just feel yourself, relax. That relaxation from that first drink is actually you're shifting neurologically from what's called sympathetic state, which is fight or flight freeze to parasympathetic, which is resting, digesting. This transformation neurologically is super important for your health. So that first drink, that kind of helps you cross that barrier. Very, very important. Now, if we continue to drink after that, the body views alcohol as a toxin. And so too much of that creates a lot of problems within the body.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 2 [00:01:16] So one drink after work is what you're saying.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:01:20] One drink can be very helpful for that, but more than that is highly problematic. Yes, ma'am.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 1 [00:01:24] Okay. So according to this study, overall findings is that people who drink a little have a 16% lower mortality rate for their demographics than those who abstain altogether. But it also says we don't advise that those who don't drink to take it up.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:01:45] It's one of those things where I would always work with somebody on that. Like, we have a lot of people who there's other ways of doing that meditation. There's ways that we have, you know, thought processes and things like that. Breathing exercises we can do to kind of do the same thing. So maybe we would add that in. But it's always one of the things I asked my patients is when you have that first drink, does this happen to you? Do you feel the day wash off you? And if they're like, yes, make you need to have that drink every day. Because that change neurologically is the most important thing that you can do for your health.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 2 [00:02:16] You know, it's funny. I think it was it must have been an uncle that always said, yeah, I have one martini after work every single night. And I always thought that was strange, even as a child. You know, why one well, why do you need one? But now you're saying that maybe he did need one.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:02:37] Yeah. So it's not just red wine. It's, you know, you can do it with scotch. You can do it with vodka. I try to tell people to, you know, a good, clean red wine with respect from all the other stuff is a better option. Or a clear liquid liquor like vodka or tequila is a better option. But it's so important that neurologic shift that even if it's bourbon, it's, you know, that one is really, really important. So yeah, one drink is, is it can be very, very helpful.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 1 [00:03:02] And the difference in the physiology between men and women is also very different. So it actually says for daily consumption, one drink for women and two for men. But, you know, I think it all depends on the man and the woman, right?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:03:18] It yes, 100%. Like every every diet, every single thing depends on the individual. And so, like, I'm glad that we're getting that piece out to everybody. But yeah, there's so I'm 240 pounds and 8% body fat. So what I'm going to require is much different than someone who's 120 pounds and, you know, ten, ten, 12% body fat. So it's going to be very, very different for those people. But from the neurologic standpoint, most people will get the most benefit out of it for the one drink.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 2 [00:03:48] Fascinating stuff. So Dr. Matt Chalmers, again, you've written a book called Pillars of Wellness. Where can people find that?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:03:56] At Amazon you can find on an Amazon, I do daily health podcast on X and on Facebook and Instagram under Dr. Chalmers the number one.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 2 [00:04:04] All right. Thank you so much for joining us.

FOX NEWS Radio Host 1 [00:04:07] Thank you Doctor.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:04:07] Thank you.

As always if you have any questions, please send them to Questions@ChalmersWellness.com

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Dr. Matt Chalmers

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