The V-Force

It's hard to argue with the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy containing many essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to help protect you from disease. The most common reasons that people give for not eating more fruits and vegetables are; they live a busy life, having fruits and veggies around isn’t always convenient, and they have trouble consuming that amount of produce. If only getting the daily recommended values was easier…

It can be with our new superfood energy drink! V-Force is a delicious chocolate green drink designed for kids and the kid at heart. V-Force offers smooth, clean energy combined with whole body nutritional support. In just one serving, V-Force provides the antioxidant power of 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables. Its taste will bring back fond memories of drinking chocolate milk as a kid.

V-Force Highlights
Helps to eliminate harmful toxins – V-Force’s ingredients help support the body's natural detoxification process and fiber helps to eliminate the toxins.

Keeps your pH balanced - V-Force is a rich source of alkaline forming foods that help keep the body’s pH in check assuring essential vitamin and mineral uptake.

Promotes overall good health – Just one serving of V-Force per day can help your child's body absorb essential vitamins and minerals, maintain proper calcium levels in bone, supply antioxidants at a cellular level to help protect against disease, and assist the body’s immune system in the production of white blood cells

No artificial anything? – That’s right. V-Force is a 100% vegetarian and gluten free green drink that contains absolutely NO fillers, added sugar, yeast, corn, wheat, soy protein, dairy, egg, MSG, GMOs, preservatives, chemical sweeteners, or artificial ingredients.

Click Here For More Information

Plant Fiber is Smart Fiber

You  are probably saying things like – who needs fiber, I’m as regular as clockwork!” But fiber does ALOT more than just keep us regular.

There actually two types of fiber: Soluble and Insoluble.

Insoluble fiber promotes the movement of materials through your digestive system. These are foods like whole wheat flour, wheat bran, and vegetables to name a few.

Soluble fiber is fiber that dissolves in water. You can get soluable fiber through eating oats, peas, citrus fruits, prunes, and carrots.

Fiber, while the human digestive track is designed not to digest fiber, plays a critical part in achieving optimal health. Here’s how:

•    Supports a healthy heart

•    Supports regular bowel movements – This may seem a bit gross but the reality of the situation is basic and states that the waste products our bodies produce need to be expelled. If it cannot get rid of its waste then the body begins to deteriorate.  People really don’t think too much about regularity but THEY SHOULD. This is a good indication of how everything is working and even give you signs that things may not be working right. 

Lesson to be learned here: 

•    Supports normal blood sugar levels

•    Supports slower digestion thus supporting proper digestive hormone balance

•    Supports normal blood pressure

•    Supports weight loss

There are so many things that fiber directly contributes to that it is quite mind boggling. Yet, people do not eat enough fiber, of either variety! Why? Well, we have to look at the ease of getting quick, fast foods. You think a cheeseburger and fries has a lot of beneficial fiber in it?

Let us answer that for you, NO.

We also have to look at processed foods. You know, the foods that are primarily in the center of the grocery store, not the outside perimeter. These foods are full of salts not fiber.

QUICK TIP: Eat about 5-6 dried prunes each night before you go to bed. They will satisfy your sweet tooth craving and give you a whopping fiber dose.

Cellulose: Down with OPP

You may be wondering what we mean by "down with OPP". Well, we can say it’s not the Naughty By Nature lyrics you may be thinking of from the 90′s. What we mean by (OPP) is "Opportunistic Plant Parts" which is what cellulose is!

Here is a quick science lesson: Cellulose is what makes up the walls of a plant cell. Humans cannot digest cellulose thus we consider it "dietary fiber".

The human benefits of cellulose:

•    Supports regularity

•    No caloric value

•    Promotes feelings of satiety

•    Supports a healthy colon

Hopefully our creativity with classifying cellulose as “opportunistic plant parts” isn’t too far of a stretch of the imagination for you. From the above potential benefits, they most certainly can provide a healthy opportunity to better your health regiment.

By the way, MannaLife International adds cellulose to their 100% vegetarian protein meal replacement drink, Vtein. Read more

Portion Control – Dirty words or worth the effort?

What many people don’t realize it that portion control can make a HUGE difference in weight management just like caloric restriction (staying under a certain amount of calories a day). What most people also don’t realize is that they are probably eating 2-3 portions per meal and it’s even worse when you go out to eat.

You would think that treating yourself and your family to an evening out – not having to worry about what to cook for dinner – would be carefree. Think again. Most restaurant servings are similar to those you automatically eat at home – 2-3 serving sizes.

QUICK TIP – EATING OUT

We know you’ve had this happen to you before. You order and when they bring out your plate – your eyes get big and you say, ‘Wow, that’s a big meal, I wasn’t expecting that from the picture.” BUT…you end up eating the entire meal.

Here’s what to do: Split and entrée with a friend or family member.

This will reduce the amount you can eat and get you closer to having one serving.

QUICK TIPS – AT HOME

We know you’ve seen those snack bags at your local grocery store. Those are the best invention for someone who wants to watch their portions. They generally hold about one serving of any food. Keep in mind you don’t want to fill the baggie to the brim!

Take the time after you do your weekly grocery shopping and put all your snack foods into individual serving sizes. It’s time consuming – we know – but well worth it.  Pre-portion benefits;

• Helps you only eat one serving

• Helps you pack lunches quicker for school (think about it they are already in baggies! It’s grab and go time!)

• Gives you more time to stay away from the kitchen (when you’re in the kitchen you want to eat!)

• Helps you become more aware of true serving sizes

• Saves you money! (You’re food supply will actually start to last longer.)

I think you will find that forming good foundational nutritional habits will only support you on your journey to living a more fulfilling, healthy and happy life.

Boost Your Metabolism Before Eating

If you decide you will enjoy a tasty but maybe not a good nutritious meal, here are a few ways how:

•  Do at least a 40 minute workout at 80% of your maximum heart rate (MMR) capacity.

Here’s how to figure that out. Calculate your MMR first by subtracting your age from 220. So 220 – (Your Age) = Your Maximum Heart Rate. Then take 80% of that number. Example: A 34 year olds maximum heart rate is 186. 80% of 186 = 148.

•  Kettlebell Swings for 20 minutes. Yes only 20 minutes. Kettlebells target almost all of your major muscles groups at once when done correctly. Do as many as you can, stop and rest for 30 seconds to catch your breath, then repeat. Do this for maximum of 20 minutes.

•  Go lift some weights at the gym for 30 minutes BEFORE you do your cardio. You’ll gain more strength and burn more fat  – a double bonus feature!

•  Eat a protein packed breakfast and/or lunch. The protein actually helps you burn more fat. Great time to try vegetarian protein powder – Vtein™. Easy, quick, and 20 grams of easily digestible, lean protein per serving. more info

There is one more thing you can do. There is a product we have to mention called Vlocity™ that is thermogenic. It is designed to help your body boost its metabolic rate, naturally. Take 2-3 capsules right when you wake up and take 2-3 capsules right before you start eating your food feast. The body will love a little extra help from time to time. This will also provide an energy boost in the process. read more

Ways To Reduce Inflamed Arteries - Without Drugs

The experts predict that as a result of a study, which seemed to show that the statin drug Crestor lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes in those with high levels of inflammation, will lead to millions of people being put on statin drugs. But the benefits were actually tiny -- about 0.72 percent of the statin takers in the trial had a heart attack or stroke, compared with 1.5 percent of those taking placebos.

As an alternative to going on a statin drug that comes with dangerous side effects, you may want to try these five measures first:

1. Stop smoking. Smoking hardens the arteries and increases inflammation. But research shows you can reverse all the damaging effects to your arteries within 10 years of quitting.

2. Think olive oil, fish, and nuts. People who stick with a Mediterranean-style diet based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil can lower their levels of inflammation. It works by increasing the amount of foods you eat that are rich in omega-3 fats, which fight inflammation.

3. Get active. Exercise is a great way to lower inflammation without any of the side effects associated with medications.

Shrink your waist size. If you're a woman with a waist measurement of over 35 inches or a man with a waist of over 40 inches, you probably have high inflammation. Whittling a few inches off the waist by reducing your portions and increasing activity can go a long way toward solving that problem.

4. Get enough sleep. A new study shows that elderly people with high blood pressure who sleep less than 7.5 hours a night have dramatically elevated chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Other research has shown that both too little and too much sleep increases inflammation. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says most adults need between seven and eight hours of sleep each night.

5. Reduce stress. High levels of stress hormones can lead to the release of excess inflammatory chemicals.

Source: U.S. News & World Report November 11, 2008

Gas Prices Can Affect Your Health!

Are you feeling the pinch with food prices rising due to the increased cost of fuel? Many people are opting for lower-priced processed food products, replacing meat with more carbohydrate-based meals and waiting for specials before buying. More and more unhealthy processed foods are being purchased and consumed. What affect does this have on your body?

Be careful because over time, the experts warn, proper nutrition is crucial to long term health. This could lead to a higher incidence of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes already being reported.

With food prices going up between 10 and 20 per cent, consumers are finding it more difficult to buy nutritious organic live whole foods. This causes the consumers to control their spending habits that can result in purchasing less nutritious food. As a result, shoppers, particularly those with lower incomes, are choosing less expensive food items that lack adequate nutrition that they would normally get from whole foods and whole food supplements.

I choose to eat whole foods containing the proper nutrition to stay healthy and cut expenses in other areas. Your body is not like a car. You cannot buy a new one, so keep what you have healthy for life. Fuel your body with the proper nutrition all of the time because your health is priceless.

Can The Sodas

Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University and colleagues have just completed a two year study. Five Philadelphia elementary schools replaced sodas with fruit juice. They scaled back snacks and banished candy. They handed out raffle tickets for wise food choices. They spent hours teaching kids, their parents and teachers about good nutrition.

The results were phenomenal. The number of students who became overweight during the two-year experiment was a full 50% less than the number of kids who became overweight in schools that didn’t make these changes. The findings are published in the April, 2008, issue of the journal Pediatrics.

In the five test schools, juice, water and low-fat milk replaced sodas. Snacks had to meet limits for fat, salt and sugar. Students who ate healthy snacks got raffle tickets to win prizes such as bikes and jump ropes.

But the schools can’t do it all on their own – the biggest challenge to schools is that kids drink sodas and eat junk food at home – so they come to school expecting to do the same. As parents, imagine the difference we could make if all of us made these same simple changes in our homes.

Wholefood Farmacy foods taste great, they’re convenient, kids love them and can help you to take that first step in the right direction.

Dangerous Ingredients Lurking in our Food Supply

Here are examples of what is in many of our foods today unknown and unseen by the general public.

• Hormones, steroids, antibiotics found in animal products
Research shows these compounds can be absorbed by fruits and vegetables grown in soil treated with manure from animals fed antibiotics.

• Toxins and pollutants from contaminated soil and water
These can stay in our environment years after they've been banned, such as DDT.

• Pesticides, fertilizers and fumigants
These are unnatural compounds.

• MSG (Monosodium Glutamate}
MSG is a neurotoxic flavor enhancer that's hidden in many foods.

• Partially hydrogenated oil
Gives baked goods and snacks longer shelf life but contains high levels of trans fat.

• High fructose corn syrup-With a high glycemic index, it converts to fat more than any other sugar. Usually made with genetically modified corn and genetically modified
enzymes.

• Genes from bacteria, viruses, plants, animals and even humans inserted into plants like soybeans, corn, canola and cotton
Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering can create life forms that would normally never exist in nature.

•Artificial colors and flavorings
Artificial colors are chemical compounds made mainly from coal-tar; artificial flavors are cheaply produced chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors.

• Artificial sweeteners
Despite claims that these are "safe" food additives, remember they are not natural. For example, aspartame is made up of three chemicals.

• Benzoate preservatives-These are phenolic compounds often added to food to preserve fats and prevent fats from becoming rancid; these preservatives produce low levels of hormones.
The result? Food that has been denatured - stripped of much of its nutritional value and integrity. Food that could potentially cause health issues.

"Natural" juices and energy drinks are not what you think

Many people hope to get some or most of the fruits and vegetables they need from so-called "natural" juices. Not so fast!

Did you know that 98 percent of liquid nutritional products on the market are pasteurized? Pasteurization uses high heat to kill bacteria and harmful microorganisms but at the same time substantially alters or deactivates the majority of good, naturally occurring "live" nutrients and enzymes!

Some manufacturers go as far as to say their product is not pasteurized although prior to combining the products individual juice ingredients each ingredient is pasteurized prior to being made into a juice or supplement.

Many of these so-called "natural" juices contain ingredients from "juice concentrates" or "puree concentrates" using heat or a vacuum, which also denatures the nutritional integrity of a fruit or berry. And some of these juices contain only 10 percent or less of the actual key ingredient promised on the label.

What about hot selling energy drinks? The truth is most of them are absolutely loaded with high fructose corn syrup and synthetic caffeine-and there's not much "natural" about those ingredients.

Why most grocery store Minerals are Junk!

Most minerals supplements found in grocery stores are made from isolated or inorganic minerals. These types of minerals are not water soluble and are difficult for your body to absorb. According to experts, your body can assimilate no more than eight percent of inorganic minerals you consume from these supplements. Just eight percent! (1)

The best way to get the minerals you need each day is from plant-derived hydrophilic minerals. These minerals are 200 to 2,000 times smaller than inorganic minerals, plus they're water soluble and more easily digested by your body. In fact, almost 100 percent of a hydrophilic mineral can be absorbed by your body and made available for use.

The key phrase is "plant derived" or "plant based". Yes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants with the thousands of naturally occurring nutrients found in plants, fruits and vegetables give you better nutrition than isolated synthetic vitamins-almost 100 percent.

(1) TRC Nutritional Laboratories, www.trccorp.com

The Synthetic Vitamin Deception

Because it's hard to eat 5-9 fruits and vegetables every day, many Americans think they can get the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants they need from isolated synthetic supplements.

Americans are buying synthetic supplements in droves to the tune of $20 billion a year. But don't be fooled! Research shows that synthetic vitamins are 50-70 percent less biologically active than natural vitamins.(1)

The fact is, there are literally thousands of naturally occurring nutrients in fresh fruits, vegetables berries, greens, seeds, nuts and sprouts that you simply cannot get from synthetic, isolated vitamin supplements.

Synthetic, isolated vitamins and inorganic mineral supplements don't even come close to giving you the REAL whole food-based nutrition you can get from the best whole foods.

(1) Nutri-Con The Truth About Vitamins & Supplements, The Vitamin Myth Exposed, Brian Clement, Hippocrates Health Institute & OCA, Dec. 31, 2006

What are Americans eating? Too much junk food!

An analysis of the diet of Americans reveals that sugary snacks and sodas are consumed more readily than fruits and vegetables. It should not surprise us that 89% of Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately it is more convenient to eat fast foods or processed foods that are not as healthy.

Researcher Gladys Block, PhD and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that at least 30 percent of the total calorie intake of Americans surveyed was from sweets, desserts, salty snacks, fruit flavored drinks and alcoholic beverages. (l)

The end result! Junk food provides calories but not vitamins and minerals your body is in need of... in other words "empty calories."

(1) UC Berkeley Press Release by Sarah Yang, June 1, 2004

Whole Foods - What's Good for You?

Hundreds of diet books place foods into "good" and "bad" categories. Some foods, such as carrots, are considered bad because of their high glycemic index, a ranking system for carbohydrates according to their effect on blood glucose and insulin levels. Meanwhile, blueberries are considered a "power food" because of their antioxidant properties. These claims may lead to confusion and are not always based on sound scientific evidence. Total diet, or your overall eating pattern of food, is the most important focus of a healthful eating lifestyle, according to the American Dietetic Association. All foods can fit within this pattern if consumed in moderation with appropriate portion size and combined with regular physical activity.

Many Americans have become more conscious of diet and nutrition, in part because of the Internet, the media and food labeling, more than 72 million people are obese. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributes this contradiction to Americans still looking for the quick fix or magic bullet. With the current American lifestyles and time challenges, physical activity is not always a priority. And in the world of "supersized" servings, we have lost our ability to judge correct portion size. Unfortunately, this trend has also been accompanied by widespread confusion, with complaints that nutrition education is focused on what not to eat, instead of what to eat, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Diets Don't Work

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, examining 31 weight-loss studies found that long-term dieting doesn't keep the pounds off. While people can lose weight initially, many relapse and regain the weight they shed. The findings confirm what many scientists have been saying all along: Losing weight is easy. Keeping it off is another story. "If dieting worked, there would be a bunch of skinny people walking around," said obesity researcher Dr. David Katz, head of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. Since the 1970s, the ranks of overweight and obese Americans have risen with two-thirds of adults in that category. Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

If you're tired of diets that don't work, let The Whole food Farmacy offer you a pathway to the one and only true solution - a new healthy lifestyle! Our 7 & 13 day programs such as The Tri-Decathlon Delux, New You Resolution Pantry and Liquithon offer you a way to reset your body's nutritional system back to "original manufacturer's specifications" and to make a fresh start.

Can you imagine craving water, fruits and veggies the same way that you now crave sodas, junk food and fast food? Can you imagine feeling completely full and satisfied with half the amount of food it takes to do that for you now? That's what The Wholefood Farmacy's 13 day programs are all about. These wonderful programs can be your "on-ramp" to a new and healthier lifestyle - and that is the only true and permanent solution.

Would you like more information? If so, please call our 24 hour recorded information line at 620-294-1381. This recorded call offers complete information, details, instructions and answers to frequently asked questions.

Visit The Whole food Farmacy Here: richm.thewholefoodfarmacy.com

Whole Foods & Male Fertility

At a recent American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting, new research revealed that eating more whole food fruits and veggies can help men boost their fertility. These new findings indicate that the more produce a man consumes, the healthier his sperm will be. In a study group of infertile men, 83 percent of them were found to be eating less than five servings of fruits and veggies a day. Overall, the men who ate the fewest whole food fruits and veggies had the lowest sperm motility.

"We think that sperm quality is affected by dietary antioxidant intake," said study author Dr. Vivian Lewis, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. "Antioxidants, like those found in whole food fruits and vegetables, may help prevent damage to sperm that causes them to become sluggish and lose the ability to fertilize an egg".

In particular, the antioxidants glutathione and cryptoxanthin, which are prevalent in brightly colored produce such as leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers and oranges, were associated with strong, healthy sperm, Lewis said. She recommended that men hoping to father children eat "a variety of fruits and vegetables, at least five servings a day." With The Wholefood Farmacy, getting your 5 a day has never been easier.

The modern day researches continue to confirm what the ancients knew. Focus on giving your body what it needs - it knows how to do the rest.Visit The Wholefood Farmacy Here

Fruits & Vegetables Affect Vision

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help keep your eyes in good shape. You may know that the vitamin A in carrots aids night vision. There are other whole food fruits and vegetables that help prevent two common aging-related eye diseases - cataract and macular degeneration. This disease afflicts millions of Americans over age sixty-five. Cataract is the gradual clouding of the eye's lens, a disk of protein that focuses light on the light-sensitive retina. Macular degeneration is caused by cumulative damage to the macula, the center of the retina. It starts as a blurred spot in the center of what you see. As the degeneration spreads, vision shrinks.

Free radicals generated by sunlight, cigarette smoke, air pollution, infection, and metabolism cause much of this damage. Dark green leafy vegetables contain two pigments, lutein and zeaxanthin, that accumulate in the eye. These two appear to be able to snuff out free radicals before they can harm the eye's sensitive tissues.

In general, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains appears to reduce the chances of developing cataract or macular degeneration.

Nutritional Synergy

Jeff Prince is the vice president for education at the American Institute for Cancer Research. In his August 2004 interview with The Washington Post he said that "the thousands of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in whole foods act synergistically together to create a more powerful effect than the sum of their parts, producing a result which cannot be recreated by supplements".

Dr. Rui Hai Liu is an associate professor in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University . He is a member of the graduate fields of Food Science and Technology, and Environmental Toxicology. Dr. Liu received his Ph.D. in Toxicology from Cornell University . He also holds a M.D. in Medicine and a M.S. in Nutrition and Food Toxicology from Harbin Medical School in China .

Dr. Liu recently appeared at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) International Conference on Food, Nutrition and Cancer to present some of his latest findings. "Different plant foods have different phytochemicals," he said. "These substances go to different organs, tissues and cells, where they perform different functions. What your body needs to ward off disease is this synergistic effect - this teamwork - that is produced by eating a wide variety of plant foods."

That's why we call We call Phi Plus "the healthiest food in the world". It is a synergistic combination of dozens of all pure whole food ingredients including nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs, oils, & spices.

Synergy or synergism (from the Greek synergos meaning working together, circa 1660) refers to the phenomenon in which two or more discrete agents, acting together, create an effect greater than the sum of the effects each is able to create independently. Phi Plus is nutritional synergy in edible form. Phi Plus is always ready to go when you are. Treat yourself to some Phi Plus today and be sure to share some with your family, children, and loved ones.

A Woman's Heart

Amazing new research was published in the October 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. This new study shows that women who eat a healthy diet, drink moderate amounts of alcohol, are physically active, maintain a healthy weight and do not smoke have a significantly reduced risk of heart attack – a reduced risk of up to 92 percent!

Dr. Agneta Akesson, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, and colleagues identified dietary patterns in 24,444 postmenopausal women by analyzing food frequency questionnaires, on which the women supplied information about how often they ate 96 common foods.

The low-risk lifestyle, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish and legumes, in combination with moderate alcohol consumption, not smoking, maintaining the proper weight and being physically active was associated with 92 percent decreased risk compared with findings in women without any low-risk diet and lifestyle factors.

Several components of fruits, vegetables and whole grains such as fiber, antioxidant vitamins and minerals, have been associated with a reduced risk for coronary heart disease, the researchers note. In addition, previous studies have found beneficial effects of small amounts of alcohol in preventing the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which could help prevent heart attacks. "The combined benefit of diet, lifestyle, and healthy body weight may prevent more than three of four cases of heart attack in our study population," Dr. Akesson and colleagues report.

The Wholefood Farmacy whole foods make it easy and convenient for you to enjoy the benefits of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and dietary fiber. How many servings of fruits and veggies have you, your family and your children had today?

Health Benefits of Red Wine

The French seem to know something about the health benefits of red wine. In a study that compared French and German red wines, the French red wines delivered a greater health benefit due to their higher level of antioxidants.

In 1991, the television program 60 minutes aired a report called The French Paradox. The program explored the heart attack rates of daily moderate wine drinkers in southern France; their rate is one of the lowest in the world, and their food among the unhealthiest.

One of the most studied antioxidants in red wine is resveratrol, a compound found in the seeds and skins of grapes. Red wine has a high concentration of resveratrol because the skins and seeds ferment in the grapes' juices during the red wine-making process. This prolonged contact during fermentation produces significant levels of resveratrol in the finished red wine.

Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol called a phytoalexin, a class of compounds produced as part of a plant's defense system against disease. It is produced in the plant in response to an invading fungus, stress, injury, infection, or ultraviolet irradiation. Red wine contains high levels of resveratrol, as do grapes, raspberries, peanuts, and other plants.Beliefs in the benefits of red wine got a boost in 2006 when Harvard Medical School researchers found that resveratrol made mice live longer, more active lives, even if the mice made pigs of themselves. The study, reported in the journal Nature, showed that with daily doses of resveratrol, middle-aged mice on an unhealthy, fat-heavy food regimen remained as healthy, or even healthier, than those eating much less fat.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, people who drink in moderation are different from non-drinkers or heavy drinkers in ways that could influence health and disease. Part of a national 1985 health interview survey showed that moderate drinkers were more likely than non-drinkers or heavy drinkers to be at a healthy weight, to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and to exercise regularly.

The definition of moderate drinking is something of a balancing act. Moderate drinking sits at the point at which the health benefits of alcohol clearly outweigh the risks. The latest consensus places this point at one to two drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women - moderation seems to be the key.