World's oldest people use the 'wine rule' to help them live past 100 and doctors agree

It turns out that drinking alcohol regularly while abiding by certain advice could actually be good for you and even help you live longer.

While Bryan Johnson embarks on the latest high-tech medical procedures in a bid to 'biohack' his age, people living in 'Blue Zones' have a vastly different approach which seemingly helps them live healthier and longer.

What are Blue Zones?

Blue Zones are areas across the globe in which residents are more likely to live until the age of 100 or even older.

They currently include Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece and Loma Linda in California.

As well as the 'Blue Zone' diet, explorer Dan Buettner has revealed there's one thing all of the five Blue Zones have in common which he believes helps them stay healthy and live longer than people do in other countries - and it's partly because of a certain 'wine rule'.

Blue Zones are areas where people tend live longest (Getty Stock Images/Maria Korneeva)

The 'wine rule'

Buettner told The Mirror: "People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly."

The emphasis in all of this is definitely on the word 'moderately' and while that may not surprise you, the next fact will.

Buettner explained: "Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink one to two glasses per day (preferably Sardinian Cannonau wine), with friends and/or with food. And no, you can’t save up all week and have 14 drinks on Saturday."

But how does drinking alcohol every day - albeit in moderation - help your health and even make you potentially live longer?

The important word here is moderation (Getty Stock Images/Yuilia Kokosha)

Positive effects

Well, Healthline explains that 'light to moderate drinking' is actually linked to 'a reduced risk of heart disease,' alongside 'reduced weight gain' and a reduced risk of dementia.

Moderate alcohol consumption may also 'raise "good" HDL cholesterol in your bloodstream,' 'lower your blood concentration of fibrinogen - a substance that contributes to blood clots, 'cut the risk of diabetes - another major risk factor for heart disease' and 'reduce stress and anxiety temporarily'.

Red wine in particular can be good for you in moderation, with Medical News Today explaining it has 'antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-regulating effects' and can have positive effects on heart and gut health, alongside reducing your risk of Type 2 Diabetes, certain cancers and dementia as well as reducing your blood pressure too.

However, should you not keep an eye on how much alcohol you consume and your alcohol intake be considered heavy?

Light to moderate drinking can sometimes help your blood pressure (Getty Stock Images/Anthony Miller)

Warnings

Well, it could increase your risk of diabetes, cancer, chronic diseases, memory loss and 'social problems'.

Healthline notes: "Moderate drinking is defined as at most one standard drink per day for women and at most two for men, while heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks per day for women and four for men."

Senior Lecturer at Chester Medical School, Dr Gareth Nye, told The Mirror: "Spreading your consumption over the week and including several alcohol-free days can help keep your intake within healthy limits."

He also stressed: "No one should be drinking alcohol for health benefits, moderation is always key. Ideally as little alcohol as possible is best for health but if you feel your alcohol intake has increased over time or you feel like you are relying on alcohol then you should ideally seek help for this."

If you've been affected by addiction and want to speak to someone in confidence, you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 324-0595, available 24/7, or contact them through their website.