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DELAFIELD - Next time you grab for a nice cold one... Don't feel guilty. We often report about the negative effects of alcohol. But the fact is drinking alcohol does have its benefits... If you do it wisely.

Bartender Greg White says most customers come to the Delafield Brewhaus for one thing.

"Definitely the beer. With all the house-crafted beers, that's really what brings people in," he says.

So what if we told you that brew can do a body good? Brewhaus customer Derek Wilson likes that.

"They always say that smoking is bad. It's good to hear that one thing that's fun is decent," he exclaims.

It's true - a beer a day can actually keep the doctor away! Dr. Steven Vacek is a family practice doctor with the Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic. He says alcohol has been proven to improve four aspects of health. We all know the first one--that it can reduce stress and anxiety. Did you also know alcohol can lower cholesterol and decrease heart disease?

And the most recent studies show it can even reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

"We're not sure how that effect works. It may have something to do with the cholesterol issue and improving the HDL, it may be that alcohol has the effect of keeping the small arteries in the brain open," Dr. Vacek explains.

Studies show one or two drinks a day can have health benefits, as long as you practice moderation.

"As a physician it is hard to talk to patients about, yeah, you should go drinking. No, you shouldn't go drinking. You should have moderate daily consumption if it's appropriate for you," Doctor Vacek warns.

It's not only beer. Doctor Vacek says the benefits come with all alcohol. That's good news to Brewhaus customer Justinna Baures, who likes a mixed drink after work. She is happy to hear about the health benefits. "Maybe drinking regularly I won't have that same fate as some people," she says.

White has been serving up drinks for years. He says he sees all kinds of drinkers. "People will come in and, you know, make a night of it, but yeah, you definitely see a lot of people that are very moderate."

So like anything in life, Dr. Vacek says it's all about balance. "You can't have a triple cheeseburger every day of the week and think your one beer at night is gonna make a difference. That's not gonna cover it," he says.

Over-drinking can cause liver and stomach problems, possibly even stomach cancer.