6 reasons you should drink more

The holidays are a time to eat, drink and be merry... but mostly drink. And good news-new studies have found that there are serious health benefits to doing it in moderation. Um, yes please!

1. It Keeps You Thin.

Seriously. New research found that wine can help keep your weight in check. Um, how? Over a 13-year study, scientists found that women who drank a glass or two of red wine a day were 30 percent less likely to be overweight than non-drinkers. One reason: Drinking booze encourages your body to burn calories.

2. It Makes You Smarter.

Scientists from the University of Illinois found that people who drank two pints of beer during a series of bar games solved 40 percent more problems correctly and came up with their answers 3.5 seconds faster than study participants who were sober. Heck. Yes.

3. It Prevents Pneumonia.

According to a new study from Japan's Sapporo Medical University, the hops in beer contain a chemical called humulone which helps protect your bod against the virus that causes pneumonia.

4. It Protects Your Skin.

Spanish researchers discovered that a compound in red wine called flavanoids may help protect your skin against sun damage. As if we needed another excuse to drink more pinot noir.

5. It Gives You Strong Bones.

Researchers at Northwestern University found that drinking a glass of wine can increase production of estrogen and other hormones that are essential for healthy bones. Another study from the University of California, Davis found that the silicon in beer helps boost bone strength. So go ahead and mix it up at happy hour-your bones will thank you.

6. It Helps You Live Longer.

According to a study from the Harvard Medical School, wine drinkers have a lower mortality rate than beer or liquor drinkers-and even non-drinkers. We'll cheers to that.

Taken from: shine.yahoo.com (article, By Pat Sandora ), Google (images).