DrinkedIn Trends

Resveratrol lowered levels of hormones that can lead to infertility and higher risk of diabetes

Scientists uncover more information about resveratrol’s anti-inflammatory properties

A 30-year study of twins in Finland found those who enjoyed the occasional drink showed lower risk than those who avoided alcohol altogether

An in-depth analysis of research finds that wine holds a significant advantage over beer and spirits

Researchers find mortality rate lower for those who drink 2 to 3 glasses a day; also, a mixed health message for women

To imbibe or not to imbibe? That is the long-running debate.

Many studies have delved into the negative effects of drinking too much alcohol, such as impaired decision-making, a slower reaction time, and liver damage over time. However, there’s another side to that coin, and some studies have also looked at the positive aspects of moderate drinking, with the heart health benefits of red wine being one of the most popular topics.

There are several negative and positive effects of alcohol that have not gotten as much attention from the media, though, and I’d like to look at a few of them here. First, the negatives:

4 Little Known Negative Effects of Alcohol

Increased blood pressure. Heavy drinking raises your blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease. Fortunately, your blood pressure will return to normal levels 1-2 months after you stop drinking unless there’s already excessive damage to your heart.

You've been good all week, but now you're up against one of the biggest challenges dieters face — Friday afternoon happy hour. With just a few sugary margaritas and house lagers, you can pack on hundreds, or even thousands, of calories and undo all your progress. Worse still, you'll actually feel hungrier after drinking; alcohol lowers your blood sugar and makes you crave food.

You don't have to give up drinks altogether, though. Here are five low-calorie drinks to help you survive happy hour.

1. Rum and Diet Coke

If you have a sweet tooth, your first thought may be to order a Strawberry Daiquiri or similar drink. Drink two, though, and you've just doubled your caloric intake for the day. In addition, if you like to have happy hour outdoors, the sugar in these drinks will counteract even the most valiant mosquito outdoor control efforts.

Replace your sugary cocktail with a twist on the rum and diet coke. The natural sweetness of rum combined with the artificial sweeteners of the soda will satisfy your craving for something sweet.

2. Champagne

Ok, so maybe you like to feel a little fancy when you order a drink. Don't opt for a fruity cocktail though. Instead, break open some bubbly. On average, a 4-oz glass will set you back just 85 calories. Two glasses will hardly hurt your diet at all.

There are a lot of reasons why some people who drink alcohol don't drink wine in general and red wine in particular: they think it's for snobs; they don't like it because the ones they've tried were too harsh/sweet/sour/etc.; they think the good stuff's too expensive; they get bad hangovers from red wine; or they simply don't know how to navigate the maze of vintages, locations, producers, and grape types in order to find something they'll like.

There are also a good number of reasons to drink red wine: health, taste, being in the company of wine drinkers, and being at a party when there's just nothing else available to drink. For any of these situations, we've got some help for you.

The basic rule is to avoid extremes:

First off, avoid extremes of age: when a wine's too young – a year old or less – its taste can be too harsh because the tannins haven't softened yet, while if the wine's too old – say 7 years or more – it's either going to be off or too expensive for a newbie who might not yet have the palate to appreciate the things that make old wine good. Some exemptions here are Beaujolais nouveau and Lambrusco, which are made for drinking young.

Secondly, avoid extremes of price: unless an expert you trust recommends something below $10, there's a good chance what you'll get might be nasty, either because of the quality of the product or the poor storage some of the bottles at this price range undergo. Even if the wine is decent, wine at this level can be very inconsistent, and it's no use taking note of labels you like if there's a good chance the next bottle from the same producer won't taste the same. On the other end of the spectrum, as mentioned before, until you've trained your taste buds a bit, anything $50 and above might have some things you can't appreciate yet, and pricier wines tend to need more cellar age.