Dec. 6, 2008

If you’re like me, you’re planning to raise a glass (or several) in celebration this time of year.

Go for it!

While we’ve known about the benefits of red wine for some time, recent studies how that all alcoholic beverages have health benefits mostly related to their anti-inflammatory properties. That’s no small deal since chronic inflammation is connected to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and osteoarthritis, just to name a few.

Of course, there’s a hitch that none of us like much. There’s a very fine line between benefit and harm where alcohol is concerned. Have your drink a day. But more than one tips the balance. That means , for women, 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. For men, 6 ounces of wine, 16 ounces of beer and 2 ounces of hard liquor.

And, sorry, no fair saving up for the weekend and chugging down five drinks on Saturday night. Your intake needs to evenly spaced and regular.