Dr. Oz pleasantly surpised cocktail lovers everywhere when he discussed the health benefits of consuming alcohol in moderation on the Oprah show a few years back. It turns out others in the medical community have his back on this one.

According to this article on Sharecare.com, enjoying 1-2 drinks per day–each being the equivalent of a 5 oz glass of wine or 1.5 oz of an 80 proof liquor (the standard shot in most mixed drinks) can actually be good for you. It can help prevent strokes, reduce the risk of heart disease, and has even been shown to increase levels HDL (“good” cholesterol) in the body. Don’t get too excited though. Drinking excessively cancels out ALL of the above benefits, and can lead to a host of other problems like high blood pressure, ulcers, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

So drink up (responsibly, of course)…here’s to better health with a cocktail in hand!