Modern wine glasses are getting bigger...seven times bigger, in fact, than those from centuries ago. (iStock)
It turns out that “clean eating” should include a glass or wine with two at dinner.
According to new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center, low levels of alcohol consumption actually keeps inflammation at bay and clears your brain of toxins — including those associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Low doses of alcohol are potentially beneficial to brain health,” Maiken Nedergaard, lead study author, says in a statement. “[Alcohol in moderation] improves the brain’s ability to remove waste.”
The brain, scientists explain, has a unique cleaning system that flushes away “waste,” including proteins that have been linked to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In their animal study, they examined the effects of alcohol on that cleaning process.
They found that mice who had the equivalent of 2.5 drinks a day could clear out brain waste more efficiently than mice who were exposed to no alcohol at all.
It’s important not to overdo it, though: Rodents exposed to high levels of alcohol fared less well, with inflammation, cognitive impairment and impeded motor skills.
This new report adds to mounting evidence about the health benefits of low doses of alcohol, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Salud!
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