12 Reasons to Have a Drink

Photo by: istockphoto

You'll Stay Sharp

Sure, a binge will make you sloppy, but a drink a day doesn't impair mental function-and may actually decrease cognitive decline over the years, according to data from the Nurses' Health Study. "The protective effect lies in the increases in healthy HDL cholesterol, overall lowering of total cholesterol, and improvements in blood cell functioning," Pace says. Additionally, alcohol triggers a breakdown in ... more 

Photo by: istockphoto

You'll Stay Sharp

Sure, a binge will make you sloppy, but a drink a day doesn't impair mental function-and may actually decrease cognitive decline over the years, according to data from the Nurses' Health Study. "The protective effect lies in the increases in healthy HDL cholesterol, overall lowering of total cholesterol, and improvements in blood cell functioning," Pace says. Additionally, alcohol triggers a breakdown in the formation of plaque-little clumps of sticky, abnormal tissue that naturally develop deep in your brain as the years go by. Research has found that moderate alcohol consumption decreases the formation of plaque associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 90 percent in some regions of the brain. Whether or not Alzheimer's runs in your family, a plaque-free brain is a smarter, faster brain.

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