For several months we have been talking about the “healthy cholesterol” in our blood, known as high density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol). We talked about the purpose and action of the healthy cholesterol and ways to increase the amount of HDL cholesterol, including a heart healthy diet and exercise.

If you have investigated current recommendations to increase HDLs, you have quite likely read about the benefits of alcohol intake. As you are well aware, there is controversy regarding the recommendation of moderate alcohol intake to improve cardiac health. Both scientific and popular literature have reported on the possibility that moderate alcohol intake can reduce cardiac disease.

Recently, researchers analyzed 54 published studies from the past 38 years that examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiac health. Analysis of the data revealed that the category of “abstainers” included people who had reduced or stopped drinking, often because of aging or ill health. Classifying these people as “abstainers” raised the risk of disease and death among people who truly were abstainers. This evidence challenged the benefits of moderate drinking on heart health. When true abstainers were compared with moderate drinkers, there was no protection against death via moderate drinking.

However, there are other studies specifically examining the effect of ethanol (alcohol) on blood lipids (cholesterol) and cholesterol carriers. There is evidence that moderate alcohol intake (defined as two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) increases HDL levels. However, concurrent with this increase, the total cholesterol, heart rate, triglycerides and blood pressure also increase with moderate alcohol intake. Therefore, despite the possible increase in healthy cholesterol, alcohol consumption has a strong harmful effect on overall heart health.

There are so many negative effects of alcohol intake, much beyond the scope of this discussion. Regular alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer, cancer of the throat and esophagus, liver cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

But, most importantly, consider the effects of alcohol on brain function, particularly the frontal lobe of the brain. This area is the center for judgment, reasoning, intellect and the will. Changes in frontal lobe function from even small amounts of alcohol intake have been documented, despite not being easily identified from an external observer.

Consider the statement that, “The brain nerves which communicate with the entire system are the only medium through which Heaven can communicate with man and affect his inmost life. Whatever disturbs the circulation of the electric currents in the nervous system lessens the strength of the vital powers, and the result is a deadening of the sensibilities of the mind” (Testimonies, v. 2, p. 347).

This sounds like lifestyle habits that affect our brain function will affect our ability to communicate with God. Even if drinking alcohol could raise your HDL cholesterol, do you want to compromise brain function and impair your spiritual communication with God to achieve that goal? Let’s aim for heart health and spiritual health at the same time!