Iβve always been fascinated by research into so-called βblue zones.β These are places worldwide where people live much longer than the general population.
Okinawa, Japan, and the island of Sardinia off the coast of Italy are two of them. Weβve learned that people who live in blue zones all drink small amounts of alcohol daily.
Β A new study shows that this practice may hold extraordinary benefits for the brain.Β
Researchers have found that drinking a small amount of alcohol helps to keep inflammation at bay. It also improves the brainβs ability to remove toxins, including those with Alzheimerβs disease.
Alzheimerβs is caused by a buildup of specific proteins in the brain.
Drinking a glass of red wine improves the lymphatic system, which uses cerebral spinal fluid to flush waste from the brain.
How Did the Scientists Figure All of This Out?
Believe it or not, they gave alcohol to mice. Some got 2 1/2 drinks per day, while others got more.
Then researchers studied the brains of these mice. They found that the mice who consumed high levels of alcohol showed more inflammation and had impaired cognitive and motor skills.
The ones who got small doses of alcohol showed less inflammation, and their glymphatic system flushed out toxins more efficiently.
They also showed improvements over a control group of mice that consumed NO alcohol!
Like Many Things, Itβs All About Moderation Here
- Know your limits. Drinking isnβt for everyone, and 2 1/2 drinks per day might are too many for some people.
- Be careful with alcohol if youβre taking other medications like sleeping pills or cough syrup.
- Eat when you drink, ideally things that are high in protein. It can help slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
- Never drink and drive, even if youβve only had a few glasses.
