by Sheldon S. Zinberg, M.D.

In my last few chats, we talked about osteoporosis. Now there’s another study of interest I want to bring to your attention: I like to call this one Swacked (inebriated) or Cracked (our bones).  

At Oregon State University, a recent study indicated that alcohol consumption in postmenopausal women, mostly in the form of wine, can significantly improve bone health. The group studied showed that drinking 1 or 2 glasses of wine three or more days a week can significantly improve bone health. When they stopped drinking for 14 days, they showed a significant decrease in bone health; but remarkably, improvement was re-established within one or two days of resuming their alcohol consumption.