Heart of the matter

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It’s been commonly held that moderate alcohol intake is good for the heart, especially if that alcohol is red wine. But a recent study cited by Dr. Michael Smith of WebMD, which defined light to moderate drinking as a glass of wine a day, found that total avoidance is best for the heart. The researchers looked at individuals with a gene that triggers nausea when they consume alcohol, causing them to naturally avoid imbibing. Overall, those people had lower blood pressure and rates of heart disease, likely due to their complete abstinence.