Alcohol or more specifically Ethanol is one of the leading drugs of addiction.It is the leading cause of Hangovers and blue days.It costs the American government in excess of hundreds of millions of Dollars in rehabilitation of addicts, absenteeism from work and even destruction of lives and properties by persons DUI(Driving under influence).

Although medical science has implicated alcohol in various medical condition such as hypertension, Stroke, dementia, mental illness among others.But the incontrovertible fact is

Alcohol is mostly a risk factors and not a direct cause of most medical condition
except a few which only appear when its taken in excess

Although there is no global consensus on how much to be taken daily, it been recommended that 20-30 millilitres of alcohol has some health benefits.Only excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages increases the risk developing some illness.

Lets go through the list of benefits in those that only consume the least possible Alcohol daily.

The basis for some of its benefit is based on the ability to “stimulate” the LIVER.

#1 RAISES GOOD CHOLESTEROL

Let just say there two types of cholesterol in the body, the good(HDL) and the bad(LDL).This is good because it does not deposit in your heart and blood vessels to make you sick unlike the Bad.Minimal consumption of alcohol was found to increase the level of the good cholesterol.This according to a study by school of Public Health at Havard University.

#2 PROLONGS LIFE

According to the University of Campobasso, minimal consumption per week prolongs life by reducing the risk of death by 18%.

“Little amounts, preferably during meals, this appears to be the right way (to drink alcohol),” said Dr. Giovanni de Gaetano of Catholic University

#3 REDUCES HEART DISEASE

This also because of its ability to reduce bad cholesterol which usually deposits in the heart causing ischaemic heart diseases

#4 REDUCES BLOOD CLOT

Apart from prevention of accumulation of bad cholesterol, it also discourages factors that aids clot formation within blood vessels.Thereby reducing the risk of stroke and other forms of thromboembolism.

#5 PREVENTS COMMON COLD

The Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University discovered that while susceptibility to the common cold was increased by smoking, minimal alcohol consumption led to a decrease in common cold cases for non-smokers.Scientists thinks it has something to do with antioxidant properties of wine.

#6 IMPROVES LIBIDO

It a widely held view that, alcohol reduces libido and even causes erectile dysfunction but recent studies shows this might not be true.In 2009, study published by Journal of sexual Medicine claims minimal wine consumption helps to reduced erectile dysfunction by 25-30%.It claims that it does this the same way wine benefits the heart, By improving blood flow.

#7 REDUCES DEMENTIA

Even though Chronic alcohol consumption has been proven to cause Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to deficiency of Vitamin B1, minimal consumption in fact reduces the incidence of dementia.Theoretically, alcohol “fires up” brain cells, this in effect help to “Train” these cells and prevent Dementia.
as reported in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment,

moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia

#8 REDUCES RISK OF GALL STONES

According to researchers at the University of East Anglia, minimal alcohol consumption reduces the risk of gall stone formation by 33%.But they emphasised that the woes of alcohol out ways its benefits.

#9 LOWERS RISK OF DIABETES

A Dutch research showed that healthy adults who drink one glass per day have a decreased chance of developing type 2 diabetes, in comparison to those who don’t drink at all.

#10 REDUCES OBESITY

Alcohol naturally stimulates the liver enzymes which increases the metabolism of glucose.Since glucose is needed for synthesis of glycerol which forms the backbone of all fat deposits, this invariably reduces fat deposition.This is only true if small quantities are taken

HOWEVER MINIMAL, THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER TAKE ALCOHOL

Chronic hepatitis C/B infection
Family history of stroke
Ischaemic heart disease
Thin individuals
Depression
Hypertension
Diabetes Mellitus
Persons with family history of alcohol-related disease
Young adults(18-25)
Malnourished persons
Person taking medications affected by alcohol(antihistamine, barbiturates)
Family history of cancer among others

Read more:https://afonjaman.com/2017/09/18/10-benefit-alcohol-doctors-wont-tell/

Thank you sir, i must increase my intake

this is good news for drunkards in nairaland

Only minimal intake of alcohol guarantees the above benefits.

I can only say an apparent yes to the last point.