Wine may improve your liver
Modest wine consumption, defined as one glass (4 ounces) a day, may actually decrease the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) say researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

In a study, published in the June 2008 issue of Hepatology, participants who reported drinking up to one glass of wine per day had half the risk of NAFLD as those who consumed no wine. The results were limited to wine, however: Participants who consumed modest amounts of beer or liquor had four times the odds of having suspected NAFLD.

Research did not provide any support for drinking larger amounts.  “We want to emphasize that people at risk for alcohol abuse should not consider consuming wine or any other alcoholic beverage,” said Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., associate professor of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine and Director, Fatty Liver Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. He also pointed out that the findings do not address those who already have liver disease and should not be drinking alcohol at all.