It's a headline that really got my attention, and might be the best health news I've heard in a long time... and it's something we're pretty good at doing right here in Minnesota, too.

The headline that made me sit up and take notice (and then do a happy dance around the office) was this:

"Drinking alcohol more effective than exercise for living a long life, study finds"

Are you kidding me?!? Having a lovely craft beer or two or a glass of wine each day is MORE effective than trying to gut out three miles of huffing and puffing on the treadmill at the gym?!? How come I'm just now hearing about this?!?

Apparently, it is! Although, there is a disclaimer: According to this AOL article, the study they're talking about here only has to do with 90-year-olds. (Which is about how old I FEEL sometimes-- does that count?) But it's still good news, isn't it?

The story said "consuming roughly two glasses of alcohol or wine a day lessened the chance of an early death by 18 percent, according to The Independent," the story noted. "A moderate amount of coffee cut the likelihood by 10 percent," it said.

But... why?

Well, that's a question science (or this study, anyway) can't quite answer... yet. "I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity," one scientist said in the story. Well, if science says it's true that having a drink or two every day will help you live longer, who am I to question things?!?

So, the next time you wonder if you should have that last drink, I say, go ahead-- you might be saving your life!

Listen to Curt St. John mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5
and afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. on 103.9 The Doc