Drinking up to two bottles of wine per day, or the equivalent in other alcoholic drinks, could be the secret to remaining happy, healthy, slim and mobile into old age, according to new research out of Germany.
A German hospital surveyed 628 adults about their mood and quality of life, before comparing this information with the amount of alcohol they drank. All the people questioned were aged 60 and above, with an overall average age of 72, and were attending the hospital for routine surgery, The Times reports.
The participants were monitored over six months – answering questionnaires before their routine operations and again at a follow-up appointment.
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Joe reports: A third of the people questioned were put in the drinking “potentially unhealthy” quantities category, which meant drinking at least four nights a week, or regularly drinking the equivalent of two bottles of wine in one day.
But it just so happens that this group of drinkers were slimmer, happier and more mobile than those who drank less or were teetotal.
Vera Guttenthaler, the study’s author, said “One explanation may be that higher alcohol consumption may lead to elevated mood, enhanced sociability and reduced stress.
“The results may lead to the conclusion that alcohol consumption […] might support older patients to experience a better quality of life before and after elective surgery.“
While heavy drinkers might be pleased to hear about the new findings, British experts have warned that the study was observational – meaning cause and effect could not be determined.
Dr Tony Rao, a consultant old-age psychiatrist at King’s College London, said: “Higher self-reported quality of life may be the cause of unhealthy alcohol use because those in this group can not only socialise more to drink greater amounts but may also be generally healthier and able to drink at these levels without consequent harmful effects on health and wellbeing.”
Professor Kevin McConway, from the Open University, also said: “People who have a better quality of life in their later years might possibly be more likely to use alcohol, perhaps because they are in rather better health to begin with, or have a different kind of social life.”
The study even showed a difference between women and men who drank. Women who drank “potentially unhealthy” levels of alcohol reported a better quality of life throughout the study. All men reported similar levels at the start regardless of how much they drank, but after surgery, the heavy drinkers had “significantly higher” scores for health and wellbeing.
Dr Maria Wittmann, a co-author, said that it was “an exciting topic for further studies” but warned the link may not be causal, adding: “Only a tendency in the relationship of alcohol consumption and quality of life could be assumed.“
Baxter Dmitry
Email: baxter@thepeoplesvoice.tv
BUT who wants to be a drunk?
BS. Moderate drinking perhaps, but not heavy drinking. If they were happy they wouldn’t need to be heavy drinkers.
Heavy drinkers are addicts. I’ve never knew of a happy one.
True, me either.
If you live in the bottle-thats were you live at so yea maybe safe in the bottle but once you have to face the real world GAME OVER non-fuctional and on the street or jail or the nurseing home pennyless zero booze zero bottle to live in and maybe a little real life before you pass but all under lock&key at the nurseing home
Old people get taken Over and locked away if you give them a chance to take away averything you own-they will-the system feeds off the aged and billions are stolen from the aged in american everyday
Beer consumption per capita in Germany has gone down 50% in the last 30 years.
All the heavy drinkers I ever knew didn’t make it to a later life.
Total BS. If you know the truth about heavy drinkers/alcoholics, they have more health problems & shorter lives along with much misery that was/is all a result of the booze. Poisoning via alcohol is a bad way to go.
they think they are happier and healthier, because they are brain damaged.
As always Josey, you nailed it! LOL
The Queen Mum was a notorious extremely heavy drinker who routinely drank several bottles of spirits every single day accompanied with a few bottles of wine with her meals. She lived to 101. Course she didn’t have to drive or do any work.
I am a staunch non drinker, I can’t say I am a glowing bundle of joy, but I am definitely smarter than the average beer, and I don’t have money problems, even though I don’t make a lot of money. I have few worries, because I don’t make dumb decisions while drunk or under the influence.
if I drank, I would definitely be in prison for a violent crime or dead. I have to keep sober so I don’t kill the lousy commie purple haired liberals around me.
Non-drinker here, too, not a drop. My husband, being Irish (and having the big mouth that goes with it) says he doesn’t drink due to being Irish, (and having that big mouth) ’nuff said. LOL
WTF how would they even know IF they were happy if they are drunk all the time and thier junk would fall off anyway and no one would want to be around them DOCTOR OZ would lock them up for life to FIX`um
BS WTF foax olt toky