A colleague argues that you should recommend a non-drinking patient start a daily glass of wine to reduce heart disease risk because research shows wine lowers cardiovascular risk. Which response best reflects evidence-based nutrition guidance?

• A. Advise that everyone should start drinking one glass of wine daily because randomized controlled trials conclusively show a causal large protective effect on heart disease with minimal downside.
• B. Recommend substituting wine for any existing medications because alcohol is safer and more effective than most pharmacologic therapies for chronic disease prevention.
• C. Recommend vodka over wine for heart health because distilled spirits have been shown to provide stronger cardioprotective antioxidants than fermented beverages.
• D. Explain that observational studies show a small association between moderate drinking and slightly lower risks for some diseases, but these findings may be confounded and benefits are limited; therefore, starting to drink for health reasons is not recommended because of the many known risks.

Answer: (D)