Alcohol reportedly has numerous health benefits, as has been widely reported. Mostly, these apply to heart health, as well as to possible diabetes prevention. We've touched on this issue from time to time, as well. In a number of these reports, the Mediterranean diet (which generally includes increased consumption of red wine, as compared to diets in other parts of the world) is cited. We've often wondered whether the alcohol deserves the credit, or if it is something else -- such as the grapes or even the general lifestyle of that region. In any case, moderate consumption (as opposed to heavy drinking or binging) is usually stressed in the literature.
Smoking supposedly has benefits, too. However, I won't seriously discuss them here, as Wendi and I are so firmly against it. Mostly, the benefits listed relate to the practice being either an appetite suppressant (as with cigarettes), or a stimulant (as with, say, marijuana). Without considering the risks for a moment, I'll concede that smoking certainly affects appetite and as such could have a trickle-down effect on one's weight. Also, I suppose it could be argued that there might be valid medicinal applications (although certainly not with commercial tobacco and its many additives) and/or even spiritual uses, both of which are probably best described as rare and far removed from habitual use.
This experiment -- finding the good in the bad and the bad in the good -- works for pretty much anything you can dream up. But, as you almost certainly know, none of the benefits listed above (if even true) comes for free. Caffeine is reported to put you at risk of adrenal fatigue. Alcohol in excess is well known to be toxic for the liver (and is associated with numerous other health risks). And smoking... well, this is one where the obvious results surround us daily; just witness any smoker with a good hacking cough and you can be sure of the dire consequences.
Two caveats come to mind for me. The first is the concept of moderation, which is probably well advised. However, it should be noted that it's also tricky to know what qualifies as moderate. The concept is well established, complete with guidelines and recommendations, for things like alcohol. For cigarettes, I'm not so sure -- and would advise that "zero" is already well past moderate (considering that most people -- especially city dwellers -- inhale more than enough air pollution and second-hand smoke as it is). For other inhalants, that's up to you. As for caffeine, I count myself as someone who found it a must-avoid thing for quite a long time. However, I've recently reintroduced small amounts of green and black teas into my regular routine, and feel no worse for it.
The second thing is attempting to know when to deviate from mainstream science and when to listen to it -- or, in the case of conflicting scientific reports (more common than ever, thanks to misinformation, politics, the Internet, personal agendas, misguided science, etc.), deciding which one to believe.In the end, you can talk yourself into anything, if you want. I recall visiting a "paleo diet" web site not too long ago, reading up on some of its supposed benefits (not that I would be interested in trying it, as I have no desire to consume meat). One surprising (if somewhat gross) inclusion on that list was the assertion that people might benefit from the introduction of certain parasites. (If memory serves, that author stated hookworm.) The logic, which I found somewhat twisted, proposed that human evolution achieved a kind of digestive symbiosis with the various ubiquitous parasites -- and that we needed to get back to that. Ummm, no thanks -- but, hey, nice try. So, again, you just have to make a decision.
This has been an interesting thought experiment. Most of the above is my thinking out loud; I could see developing these thoughts in numerous directions. I've always possessed an ability that has proven at once a gift and a curse. On the gift side, I'm confident in my ability to grasp and then articulate both sides of almost any argument. This bestows useful qualities such as diplomacy and mediation among my personal attributes. However, as we've seen, most Yins have their Yangs. The downside is my own difficulty at times in making decisions. How can you ever firmly decide anything when you can appreciate arguments both for and against a given issue (Am I alone in this, or are others similarly tormented )?In the end, what if nothing is wholly good or wholly bad? What if dietary reality reflects the philosophical Yin and Yang much more than we believe it does, and that optimal health simply lies in the ever-changing quest for balance?