I'm an athlete. Can I drink wine and perform at a high level?

Q: I'm an athlete on the weekends, and I like wine. Can I drink wine moderately and still perform at a high level?

A: When it comes to exercise, moderate drinking may confer some benefits, but you should never binge drink immediately prior to competition.

According to a 2005 study in the journal Sports Medicine, the incidence of injuries among athletes who drink is 54.8 percent compared with 23.5 percent in non-drinkers, and hangovers reduce athletic performance by 11.4 percent.

Why might this be? For one thing, excessive drinking can disturb your sleep, which has a big impact on physical performance. Alcohol may reduce your body's ability to get rid of certain byproducts, like lactic acid, that build up during exercise, leading to reduced energy. Finally, alcohol is a diuretic, which means that you will tend to dehydrate at a faster rate.

If you're drinking moderately, however, that may actually be helpful. A recent study has found that wine's cardiovascular benefits are strongest when combined with regular exercise.

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