Toasting red wine research, for years women have been tossing back their cabernets and pinot noirs, as every finding linked red wine to health benefits, such as, lowered risk of heart attack and slower aging. If, you loved your red wine, then the party could be over.

In the past month, two major studies have linked alcohol to an increased risk of breast cancer risk in women. Whether, you drink only a moderate amount of alcohol, including wine, beer and liquor, new research shows there is a slightly increased risk (6%) of breast, rectum, liver, mouth and throat cancer, in women by the time they reach the age of 75, red wine being no exception, dashing hopes that red wine protects or is less likely than other alcoholic drinks to increase the risk of breast cancer risk. Other negatives include weight gain due to empty calories in alcohol.

In comparison, smoking raises the risk of breast cancer by 32%, while having a close relative like a mother, sister, or daughter, with the disease increases the risk by 200%.

Breast Cancer Facts:

• One in eight women are be diagnosed with breast cancer.
• An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women in the U. S. in 2008.
• Breast cancer apart from skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer among U. S. women.
• More than one in four cancers turns out to be breast cancer.

However, the good news is many red wine studies suggest moderate amounts (one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for middle-aged people by 30 to 50%. While, other studies indicate red wine raises HDL (good) cholesterol and prevents LDL (bad) cholesterol, and research on animals indicates concentrated levels of resveratrol, found in red wine, could be the key in extending human lifespan (drinking 100-bottles a week will get the levels currently being tested on mice).

Bottom line: enjoy wine in moderation, but for healthy heart benefits, why not eat red grapes or drink grape juice, instead of wine.