Crush CATARACTS…with BOOZE?!
After a long day, sometimes there’s nothing quite like kicking back with an ice-cold beer or a tall glass of wine.
But if you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle, there’s often a shroud of GUILT when it comes to drinking alcohol.
But what if I told you that you DON’T have to feel guilty the next time you want to indulge in a drink?
In fact, research shows a little booze could actually HELP YOUR VISION!
But before you go grabbing a glass, hear me out…
You see, while conventional medicine has told you for years that alcohol is a big ‘no-no’, researchers have found that a little bit of booze may actually be GOOD for your aging vision.
In a study published in Ophthalmology, researchers found that folks who drink moderate amounts of alcohol have LOWER rates of cataract surgery than non-drinkers.
A cataract is when your eye’s natural lens becomes ‘cloudy’… which leads to blurry vision. Surgery is one of the most common forms of treatment for cataracts.
So how do alcoholic beverages help with your vision, especially when they’ve gotten such a bad rap?
Well, according to new research, resveratrol (an antioxidant in red wine), protects against cataract and other age-related diseases. They also found that alcohol lowers low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which has long been associated with cataracts.
In fact, researchers found that people who drank one or two times per week had a 7% lower risk for cataracts…
And those who drank three or four times per week had a 6% lower risk.
Now, drinking alcohol isn’t going to magically make your vision better… and you certainly DON’T want to overindulge. BUT, it can reduce your chances of having to undergo surgery to help your vision.
Just remember, we’re talking about light to moderate drinking!
In fact, light consumption of alcohol has been linked to countless health benefits like higher “good” cholesterol, reduced symptoms of type 2 diabetes, and even lower blood pressure.
It’s also important to remember what qualifies as a “standard drink” as serving sizes tend to differ. Below is a breakdown of the standard drink amount for popular alcoholic drinks.
- 12 fl oz of regular beer (one can or standard bottle)
- 5 fl oz of wine
- 1.5 fl oz of hard liquor
So, the next time you feel like indulging or celebrating with an adult beverage, don’t feel guilty! But remember, everything in MODERATION.
To clearer vision,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
Harrison, Laird. “Alcohol Consumption Linked to Reduced Cataract Risk.” https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/948509
