Study: Frequent Drinking May Protect Heart

BOSTON -- When it comes to alcohol, it isn't what you drink, but how often you drink it that may be key to protecting the heart, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study brings another round of attention to the potent potables.

If you like beer at heart, you'll find 15 original brews at Boston Beer Works, including Hercules Strong Ale.

"Very high in alcohol at 9 percent," Beer Works brew master Herb Lindveit said. "Definitely a big strong beer for anyone who thinks stronger is better."

New Harvard research shows that alcohol can keep your heart strong. ( Read Full Report )

The study tapped into the drinking habits of nearly 40,000 men for nearly 12 years -- and found the more frequently alcohol was consumed, the better the benefit. Those who drank the most -- between three and seven days a week -- lowered their risk of heart disease by up to 37 percent compared to those who did not drink.

"Since the effect of alcohol is relatively short-lived, drinking frequently may help keep the blood thin, may help keep the platelets from sticking together and may prevent heart attacks," said the study's lead author, Dr. Kenneth Mukamal of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

It didn't matter what type of alcohol the men drank -- although beer and hard liquor were slightly more beneficial than wine. It also didn't matter how much was consumed at each sitting, or whether they drank it with a meal. However, the data suggested no additional heart benefits to drinking more than two drinks a day.

But experts also point out that liquor should not be thought of as a magic elixor for the heart, since it can cause side effects -- especially for those with a history of alcoholism, liver problems or a tendency to drink and drive.

"We just can't tell people to go and start drinking alcohol. I think that anyone who is considering any change in their alcohol consumption should be considering that only with the help of their doctor," Mukamal said.

For those who already partake, however, there's something new to drink to.

"I have beer every day myself. It's part of the benefits of the job," Lindveit said.

This study looked at only men. Next, researchers will look at how the alcohol habits of women affect the heart.