Alcohol decreases the ability to make wise choices.
Alcohol seems to somehow unhook the brain. Speech becomes slurred. Hands shake. Tongues wag. Even a godly man like Noah made a fool of himself in front of his sons. Would you want your children to see you drunk?
- Less than a half of one alcoholic drink can impair judgement.
- Non-drinkers who begin drinking run the risk of becoming alcohol dependent. Between 10% and 14% of Americans today suffer from alcoholism. None of them planned to become alcoholics. Anyone who begins drinking is taking an enormous risk.
- Alcohol causes 38% of all the traffic deaths in California.
- It would take a seismograph to measure the damage from alcoholism in the family. Abuse, abandonment, divorce, poverty, drugs, violent crime—they all sneak in the door with the bottle.
- How can we teach our children not to drink if we site down to dinner with a glass of wine?
 Drinking is never a smart choice.
What you may not have heard is that those heart-healthy flavinoids are hiding in the skin of grapes. It is possible to reap all of the nutritional benefits of flavinoids without the harmful effects of alcohol. Eat fresh red or purple grapes. Or try them after an hour in the freezer—they are a cool, refreshing snack. Toss a handful of raisins into cereal or your favorite cookie recipe. And if you must have something to drink, pour yourself a fall, refreshing glass of purple grape juice.
Mama's right again—eat your veggies!
Vegetarian diets are even more effective at lowering cholesterol than flavinoids in any form. If you are serious about reducing your risk of heart disease, toss yourself a salad. Gourmet vegetarian meals are simple to create and gentle on the pocketbook. Your heart will thank you and your head won't hurt in the morning.
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