High Bloodpressure Prevention: Limit Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. It also can harm the liver, brain, and heart. Alcoholic drinks also contain calories, which matter if you are trying to lose weight. If you drink alcoholic beverages, have only a moderate amount — one drink a day for women; two drinks a day for men.

What counts as a drink?

	12 ounces of beer (regular or light, 150 calories), or
	5 ounces of wine (100 calories), or
	1 ounces of 80-proof whiskey (100 calories).

Alcoholic beverages can raise blood pressure. So if they drink alcoholic beverages, people with high blood pressure need to limit themselves to a moderate amount. This means no more than one drink a day for women, and two drinks a day for men. One drink is about 12 ounces of beer (regular or light), 5 ounces of wine, or 1 one-half ounces of whiskey.

Alcoholic drinks contain calories, which is another good reason to cut back on them if you're trying to lose weight and control high blood pressure.

Even 5 ounces of wine can have 100 calories. The calories in alcoholic drinks are 'empty' calories — they don't contain any nutrients.

A 12-ounce can of beer counts as one drink — the same as 5 ounces of wine or 1 one-half ounces of whiskey.

source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/prevent/l_alcohol/l_alcohol.htm