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Men who have survived a heart attack and drink alcohol regularly have a lower risk of death from heart disease than those who rarely drink, a study has discovered.

The findings, taken from the US Health Professionals Follow-up Study of 2,000 male heart attack victims, discovered that those who drank an average of two alcoholic drinks a day had a 42% decreased chance of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Researchers also discovered that heart attack survivors who drank regularly were 14% less likely to die from general health conditions compared to non-drinkers.

The study investigated the link by questioning 1818 men who had survived a heart attack between 1986 and 2006. During the study and follow ups, they questioned the men on their alcohol consumption and diet every four years.

Previous studies have highlighted the link between light to moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of heart disease, however this is the first time research has established a link between moderate alcohol and lower death rates in those who already have established heart problems.

"Our findings clearly demonstrate that long-term moderate alcohol consumption among men who survived a heart attack was associated with a reduced risk of total and cardiovascular mortality,” said researcher Dr Jennifer Pai.

“We also found that among men who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol prior to a heart attack, those who continued to consume alcohol 'in moderation' afterwards also had better long term prognosis."

However, researchers added that they discovered a ‘U’ turn in the results in men who drank more than moderately, as they had the same death rate risk than non-drinkers.

Researchers also added that their findings don’t mean heart attack victims should hit the bottle, as the key is moderation.

"The adverse health effects of heavy drinking are well known, and include high blood pressure, reduced heart function and reduced ability to break down blood clots. In addition, other studies have shown that any benefits from light drinking are entirely eliminated after episodes of binge drinking," explains Dr Pai.

"Our results, showing the greatest benefit among moderate drinkers and a suggestion of excess mortality among men who consumed more than two drinks a day after a heart attack, emphasise the importance of alcohol in moderation.”

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• Foods That Ward Off Heart Disease

  Eat yourself to a healthy heart with these cardiovascular-friendly foods.

• Oats

  Oats contain beta glucan, a soluble fibre that helps reduce cholesterol levels, especially LDL (bad cholesterol), which damage the heart.

• Green Leafy Vegetables

  Green leafy vegetables like spinach, fenugreek, pak choy, radish leaves, lettuce are known to reduce the risk of heart disease as they are rich sources of folic acid, magnesium, calcium and potassium - the essential minerals for keeping the heart functioning properly. Studies have shown that one daily serving of green leafy vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease by 11%.

• Tofu

  Soy is a healthy protein alternative to red meat, as it has a low saturated fat content, no cholesterol and even increases your HDL 'good' cholesterol, which is good news for your heart.

• Tomato

  Regular consumption of tomatoes is known to reduce the risk of heart disease, as they contain a rich source of vitamin K, which help prevent hemorrhages.

• Wholegrains

  Wholegrains contain high levels of vitamin E, iron, magnesium and a host of anti-oxidants, which are all beneficial to the heart as they help reduce blood pressure.

• Apples

  Apples contain guercetin, a photochemical containing anti-inflammatory properties, vital for keeping blood clots at bay, which can lead to heart attacks.

• Almonds

  Almonds, when eaten in moderation, are known to lower cholesterol levels as they contain monosaturate fats (the 'good' fats), as well as vitamin B17, vitamin E and minerals like magnesium, iron and zinc.

• Red Wine

  Red wine (when drank in moderation) can be good for the heart as it contains a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol, which helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevents blood clots.