You’ve probably heard that red wine may help lower the risk for heart disease, but new research is giving us another reason to toast to health with red wine. A new study from the U.K. finds that the right amount of red wine may help prevent cataracts - a condition that causes clouding of the eyes that’s common as we age.
The study analyzed the lifestyle habits of close to half a million (490-thousand) people and is the largest-ever of its kind. The findings show red wine offers a protective effect against cataracts - thanks to the antioxidants in it - with a 14% lower need for cataract surgery. But if you’re more of a white wine drinker or champagne drinker, have no fear, those beverages also lower the risk by 10%. Fans of beer and liquor also saw a 13% drop in risk.
But this is definitely a case of less being more. Daily or near-daily drinkers didn’t see a lower cataract risk. And overall, regardless of which boozy beverage they drink, people who drink alcohol every day or close to it have about a 6% higher risk for cataract surgery, compared to moderate drinkers.
Source: Eat This, Not That