
Alcohol promotes a small increase in "good" HDL cholesterol and the antioxidant resveratrol found in red wine may reduce blood clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Even so, the American Heart Association recommends exercise, taking a daily aspirin and other dietary changes over drinking wine or other forms of alcohol for heart-health purposes. They caution that drinking too much alcohol can raise triglyceride and blood pressure levels, contribute to weight gain and lead to heart failure. If you drink, do so in moderation: no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.