Cheers to Your HEART Health!

For years, we were told that a glass of red wine was good for the heart. The idea became so familiar that “a glass of wine a day” was almost synonymous with healthy living.

More recent, high-quality studies show that alcohol does not improve heart health. American Heart Association (AHA) now states that alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on heart health like increased blood pressure and increased risk for heart arrythmias. While binge drinking – consuming more than two drinks a day — consistently raises the risk of heart failure, heart disease, strokes, and weakened heart muscle. The AHA does not recommend drinking wine or any other alcohol to improve heart health.

So, does that mean happy hour has to go away? Absolutely not. Let’s just take the alcohol out of it. As it turns out, happy hour brings other benefits to our heart health.

What Makes Happy Hour Heart Healthy?

1. Time to Downshift and Decompress

Taking time at the end of the day to pause can help us transition from work and responsibilities into relaxation. Chronic stress can contribute to unhealthy behaviors and may contribute to high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.

Turn off the laptop. Put away the phone. Take a breath. Your happy hour can be a daily reminder that you don’t have to be productive every minute of the day.

2. Connect with Your People

In a world where digital communication often takes priority over face-to-face connection, setting aside time to gather with other people may be more important than ever. Research shows that social connection can help people live longer and healthier lives.

Invite a neighbor over. Meet a friend for a walk. Gather your coworkers after a shift. Connection matters.

3. Eat the Rainbow

You don’t need wine to get beneficial plant compounds. Enjoy berries, grapes, colorful vegetables, nuts, seeds that are all rich in phytochemicals. These foods help our body heal and repair, essential for lifelong heart health.

So add a snack plate. Think Mediterranean rather than chips and dip. Include hummus and vegetables, whole-grain pita, olives, nuts, berries, avocado or salmon.

4. Festive Non-alcoholic Drink

You’ll still have something festive in your hand—without the alcohol. Cutting out the alcohol can improve sleep, support better hydration and liver health – all contributing to overall heart health. Try sparkling water with citrus or berries, iced herbal tea, a low-sugar mocktail or an alcohol-free beer or wine.

So, Plan the Happy Hour. Invite the neighbors over. Get together with coworkers after your shift. Make a heart-healthy snack platter. Laugh. Talk. Unwind. Connect.

Because maybe the healthiest part of happy hour was never what was in the glass.

And yes, Cheers to your HEART health!

By Lisa Fligor, MS, RDN, Tahoe Forest Health System

References:

1. American Heart Association. Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease: Top Things to Know. 2025. www.heart.org
2. “Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association” PMID: 40485439
3. “Association of Social Isolation and Loneliness With Incident Heart Failure in a Population-Based Cohort Study.” PMID: 36737310
4. “Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts” PMID 29897866