Raise a Glass: Study Finds Alcohol May Boost Good Cholesterol

These days, we could all use some uplifting news. A recently published study by Harvard University researchers suggests that alcohol consumption may have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.

The study tracked a cohort of 57,691 individuals undergoing annual health checkups in Japan.

According to an Ars Technica summary of the study:

Researchers found that when people switched from being nondrinkers to drinkers during the study, they saw a drop in their "bad" cholesterol—aka low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL.  Meanwhile, their "good" cholesterol—aka high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL—went up when they began imbibing. HDL levels went up so much, that it actually beat out improvements typically seen with medications, the researchers noted.

On the other hand, drinkers who stopped drinking during the study saw the opposite effect: Upon giving up booze, their bad cholesterol went up and their good cholesterol went down.

The cholesterol changes scaled with the changes in drinking. That is, for people who started drinking, the more they started drinking, the lower their LDL fell and the higher their HDL rose. In the newly abstaining group, those who drank the most before quitting saw the biggest changes in their lipid levels.

While previous studies have suggested health benefits associated with alcohol consumption, this Harvard study may be one of the largest to date.

That said, while these findings may be encouraging, it remains essential to weigh the risks of excessive alcohol consumption. Still, this report gives me one more reason to look forward to responsibly enjoying a good bourbon—once my post-surgery healing progresses a bit further.

Cheers!