Auburn, April 27---One early autumn evening 46 years ago while vacationing in Denver, then-President Dwight Eisenhower, prepared for bed, following a busy afternoon of national security briefings, nine holes of golf and a game of billiards with a close friend.

Just before going to bed, Ike’s friend tried to interest him in a nightcap. But the president declined the offer.

He was tired and ready for sleep.

Besides, he wasn’t feeling too well, recalling the big meal he had eaten earlier that afternoon prepared in typical fifties-era fashion: "A huge hamburger sandwich generously garnished with slices of Bermuda onion and accompanied by a pot of coffee."

Rising from an uneasy sleep early the next morning, Ike experienced his first heart attack.

As he learned later from one heart doctor, he may have avoided the attack if he had taken the "proffered drink." Even as far back as the 1950s, heart experts were advising older people to take one drink after dinner because of alcohol’s effect in dilating arteries and aiding blood flow.

Research conducted within the last couple of decades has only confirmed this belief.

"Research has pretty much shown moderate amounts of alcohol – one or two drinks a day – can reduce heart disease no matter what you drink," says Dr. Robert Keith, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System nutritionist. "Part of it stems strictly from the alcohol-related effect, because alcohol raises levels of HDL, the good cholesterol in your body."

Even better, it’s shown that certain forms of alcohol, especially red wine, may offer other safeguards beyond aiding circulation.

"Red wine contains lots of compounds called phytochemicals, and many of these are strong in antioxidants," Keith says.

"These antioxidants appear to protect not only against heart disease but other diseases as well."

The big advantage red wine enjoys over other alcohol products stems from the wide array of these chemicals found in the product. People who drink red wine consume literally hundreds and thousands of phytochemicals and flavonoids that may provide safeguards scientists are only now beginning to discover.

"These phytochemicals may be protecting you in different ways," Keith says. "In addition to safeguarding against heart disease, people who drink red wine on a moderate and regular basis may be protecting their skin, safeguarding their eyes against cataracts and reducing their risk of some types of cancer."

Despite all the good things being said about alcohol and especially red wine, Keith says it is not an excuse to start drinking.

"There’s really a very small window of opportunity here," Keith says. "After all, consuming two classes of wine or beer each day is a tall order for many people – it would be for me personally."

"Also, anything beyond a couple of drinks a day isn’t healthy. When you drink more than that you run into problems with alcohol excess – things that may affect your liver or increase your blood pressure."

This largely accounts for why government agencies have shied away from recommending alcohol as a health safeguard, Keith says.

"They’re afraid too many people will view such a recommendation as a license to drink and to begin abusing alcohol, he says."

Even so, there are other lifestyle changes that provide the same sorts of health benefits, Keith says.

"My first recommendation would be to consume more fruits and vegetables," Keith says. "Grapes are a very good choice. Wine, after all, is made from grapes, so by eating grapes you’re the getting the same antioxidant protection provided by wine."

Tea also contains a large number of phytochemicals and is a good alternative for teetotalers, Keith says.

Even chocolate is a good choice from the standpoint of phytochemicals, though he advises avoiding large amounts of this because of the calories.