Drinking is not necessarily a bad thing as long as it’s done in moderation. In fact, according to a recent study, drinking a glass of wine or a bottle of beer can even help reduce the risk of stroke in women.

Following the health and lifestyle of more than 83,000 women for 26 years, researchers were able to find out that of the roughly 25,000 women who didn’t drink, four percent had a stroke during the study. Meanwhile, among the 29,000 who have had a drink a day on average, two percent experienced a stroke.

As clear as the results appear to be, researchers couldn’t find a direct relationship between the number of drinks a woman has and her lowered stroke risk. As far as the researchers could tell, alcohol could be preventing blood clots by changing cholesterol levels. This, however, isn’t enough reason for you to take up drinking as your next hobby. Monik Jimenez, a researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, says, "We do not encourage women who do not currently drink to initiate drinking." After all, excessive drinking has been said to lead to stroke as well.

If you’re already drinking moderately in the first place, then it’s all well and good. However, keep in mind that exercising and eating right are just as important for keeping your heart in good health.

(Photo source: sxc.hu)