CONSUMED in moderation, research has shown wine and beer to have substantial health benefits. So drink up. It's good for you. Here are five reasons why.

Healthy Heart Red wine has been shown to lower the risk of a heart attack for middle-aged people by 30 percent to 50 percent. It's also suggested that red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you've already had one.

Fat Fighter Research has shown that red wine can raise HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and prevent LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) from forming. Red wine may also help prevent blood clots and reduce damage to blood vessels caused by fat deposits.

A Breath of Fresh Air Research at the University at Buffalo has shown that white wine helps promote healthy lung function.

Better Bones Researchers believe drinking beer helps promote bone density through deposits of calcium and other minerals in bone tissue.

Stoke, Not Stroke The New England Journal of Medicine stated that light to moderate beer drinkers decrease chances of suffering a stroke by 20 percent.

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