Dr. Laura Catena reacts to AHA’s statement on alcohol and cardiac health and the possibility of USDA Dietary Guidelines dropping alcohol consumption guidance.

Given the recent news that the USDA may drop the current recommendation of one alcoholic drink per day for women and two alcoholic drinks per day for men in the soon to be released update of the USDA dietary guidelines, and the American Heart Association’s new statement that alcohol may have no to little impact or could even be beneficial on heart health, we are fortunate to have just the right person to respond to this and sort it all out for us.

We welcome vintner and physician Dr. Laura Catena back to the podcast. With her unique dual background in medicine and winemaking, Catena shares her researched perspective, emphasizing the importance of scientific integrity, the value of moderate wine consumption in historical health data, and the need for ongoing research free from bias. She challenges the absolutist messaging that no amount of alcohol is safe, and urges a more balanced, evidence-based conversation.