(RxWiki News) After finished with childbearing and proceeding to raising children, women have the freedom to possibly imbibe after a day of work or child rearing. This is probably okay for their golden years health.
New research verifies research from 2010 indicating that drinking a glass of wine every day during midlife may be associated with successful aging in women over 70 years of age.
"Enjoying a glass of wine is okay for women in their 50s."
Researcher Qi Sun, of Harvard Medical School, and colleagues find, through a questionnaire that it appears spreading out moderate alcohol intake throughout the week is associated with better overall health in aging people compared to drinking heavily only on the weekends.
Researchers also point out that this research validates a 2010 US Department of Agriculture dietary guideline that states consuming one small glass of an alcoholic beverage a day for a woman may provide some health benefits. Additionally, it is important to note that occasional heavy drinking appears to be worse for the aging individual's health than light, consistent drinking.
Successful aging, for the purposes of this study, is defined as free of 11 major chronic diseases without major cognitive, mental or physical limitations at the age of 70 and above. There are nearly 14,000 elderly people included in this study with almost 1,500, or over 10 percent, categorized as successful agers.
Successful aging was associated more with people who drank lightly every day compared to those who drank heavily once or twice a week.
This article is published online at PLOS MEDICINE.
