"All things in moderation" isn't always true. For instance, if you haven’t been vaccinated or had the disease, moderate exposure to someone with measles isn't smart. Neither is moderate indulgence in highly processed foods, which will increase your risk of obesity, dementia, and cardiovascular disease.

But you'll be glad to hear that sometimes moderate (or light) consumption of things that are harmful in excess can actually improve your chances for better health.

Take wine.

A study in the journal Diabetes Care found that moderate or light alcohol drinking lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in men and women.

Harvard researchers looked at 30 years' worth of data on the drinking habits of more than 200,000 people and discovered that one drink for women and two for men five or six days a week provided the best protection, and drinking when not having a meal was more beneficial than drinking with a meal.

Of course, there are many reasons not to drink. If you're inclined to binge or overindulge, you increase your risk for various cancers, dementia, and heart and liver diseases.

If you're taking medications such as Xanax, Valium, Ativan, opioids, antidepressants, sleep meds, or NSAIDs, you risk harmful interactions.

But if you're on the road to Type 2 diabetes — which comes with a menu of life-shortening health risks — and you have friends to build your posse with, you might sip a glass of chardonnay or Chianti.

For more great ways to dodge Type 2 diabetes, check out my book "This is Your Do-Over."