BY CHRIS CANDER

Some studies suggest that one or two drinks a day can have cardio-protective benefits by decreasing the aging of arteries. “If you drink more than that, the toxicity greatly outweighs any positive benefits,” says Dr. Michael Roizen, cofounder of RealAge.com and author of several books, including You: The Owner’s Manual (The Eastern Press, 2005). According to Roizen, other potential health consequences of chronic, moderate to heavy drinking include:

• Decreased immune function, which leads to a higher risk of infections and cancer

• Stomach problems, such as reflux, inflammation and ulcers

• Liver damage, starting with fatty liver and progressing to alcoholic hepatitis, then cirrhosis and finally cancer

• Heart-related issues, including irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure and elevated serum triglycerides

“Remember the four Ds: A modest amount can be delightful; more and you become devilish, then delirious and finally dead,” says Sam Zakhari, director of the Division of Metabolism and Health Effects of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Zakhari advises to “try to stop at the first D.”

Looking for other ways to stay healthy? Pick up the March/April issue of Maximum Fitness--on sale February 9, 2010.