There are several possible reasons for the beneficial effects of drinking moderately. In fact — while drinking beer regularly may cause an increase in waist circumference — the well-known “beer belly” — wine consumption may have the opposite effect (31, 35, 36). Beer has a similar number of calories as sugary soft drinks, ounce for ounce, whereas red wine has twice as much (28, 29, 30).
We have been researching the health effects of alcohol for a combined 60 years. Our work, and that of others, has shown that even modest alcohol consumption likely raises the risk for certain diseases, such as breast and esophageal cancer. But after countless studies, the data do not justify sweeping statements about the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on human health. The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU).
Observational studies can still yield useful information, but they also require researchers to gather data about when and how the alcohol is consumed, since alcohol’s effect on health depends heavily on drinking patterns. Light to moderate drinking is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, while heavy drinking appears to increase the risk (37, 38, 39, 40). Heavy drinking and beer are linked to increased weight gain, while light to moderate drinking and wine are linked to reduced weight gain. For example, light to moderate drinking is linked to reduced weight gain, whereas heavy drinking is linked to increased weight gain (32, 33, 34). Researchers have since discovered it’s more than just their wine consumption that sets French people apart. But the red wine idea was replaced by a narrative suggesting drinking small amounts of any type of alcohol — no more than one drink a day for women, two for men — appeared to be linked with modest health and heart benefits.
Webinar: Women, men and alcohol: Why is gender important in alcohol control policies
At the same time, it impairs judgment and may promote behavior people may end up regretting (1, 2). Generally referred to as “alcohol,” ethanol is the substance that makes you drunk. On the other, it is addictive and highly toxic — especially when you drink too much. But when the weekend rolls around, and you want to cut loose, it’s not easy to face up to these facts. Alcohol is a huge part of our culture, and the problems it can carry aren’t always easy to swallow. That’s been the message — from researchers, governments, and beverage companies — for decades.
No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
If alcohol continues to accumulate in your system, it can destroy cells and, eventually, damage your organs. Your liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from your blood through a process known as oxidation. When your liver finishes that process, alcohol gets turned into water and carbon dioxide. Dr. Sengupta shares some of the not-so-obvious effects that alcohol has on your body. You probably already know that excessive drinking can affect you in more ways accutane and alcohol interaction than one. An estimated 12% of Americans are believed to have been dependent on alcohol at some point in their life (69).
- Even light alcohol consumption — up to one drink per day — is linked to a 20% increased risk of mouth and throat cancer (59, 60).
- While alcohol intake and depression seem to increase the risk of one another simultaneously, alcohol abuse may be the stronger causal factor (20, 21, 22).
- Simultaneously, alcohol abuse is the third main cause of preventable death in the US, as it’s a large factor in chronic diseases, accidents, traffic crashes and social problems (68).
- Alcohol manufacturers have previously expressed some willingness to finance the studies—similar to the way pharmaceutical companies finance most drug testing—but that has often led to criticism.
- In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.
Earlier this month, for instance, the media reported on a new study that found even small amounts of alcohol might be harmful. It’s tempting to assume that because heavy alcohol consumption is very bad, lesser amounts must be at least a little bad. But the science isn’t there, in part because critics of the alcohol industry have deliberately engineered a state of ignorance. It’s tempting to assume that because heavy alcohol consumption is very bad, lesser amounts must be at least a little bad. But the science isn’t there, in part because critics of the alcohol industry have deliberately engineered a state of ignorance.
A fresh look at risks for developing young-onset dementia
For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” (last accessed June 6, 2024). Alcohol is a popular substance enjoyed by millions all over the world. Red wine appears to be particularly beneficial because it is very high in healthy antioxidants. Alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, in predisposed individuals. However, studies investigating the link between alcohol and weight have provided inconsistent results (31). By reducing self-consciousness and shyness, alcohol may encourage people to act without inhibition.
The researchers thought this may be driven by the fact that people who drink more tend to have high levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol — or the “good cholesterol” — which could put them at a lower risk of dying from a heart attack. The researchers also estimated that men who halved their alcohol consumption — from about 14 drinks per week to about seven — might gain one to two years in life expectancy. For example, any amount of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. The evidence for moderate alcohol use in healthy adults is still being studied. But good evidence shows that drinking high amounts of alcohol are clearly linked to health problems. Similarly, in randomized trials, alcohol consumption lowers average blood sugar levels.
Moderate alcohol consumption may increase life expectancy, while alcohol abuse is a strong risk factor for premature death. Globally, the WHO European Region has the highest alcohol consumption level and the highest proportion of drinkers in the population. Here, over 200 million people in the Region are at risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer. “While doctors have frequently admonished me for putting cream in my coffee lest it clog my arteries … Not once has any doctor suggested I might face a higher cancer risk if I didn’t cut back on drinking,” she wrote. For men and women, drinking is also known to increase the risk of mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon cancer.
New research on alcohol and mortality, and a growing awareness about the rise in alcohol-related deaths in the US, is causing a reckoning among researchers about even moderate levels of alcohol consumption. Even light alcohol consumption — up to one drink per day — is linked to a 20% increased risk of mouth and throat cancer (59, 60). In fact, your overall diabetes risk tends to drop with moderate alcohol consumption.
Restricting digital marketing in the context of tobacco, alcohol, food and beverages, and breast-milk…
Harmful use of alcohol is accountable for 6,9 % and 2.0% of the global burden of disease intermediate familial subtype for males and females respectively. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 20 to 39 years, accounting for 13% of all deaths in this age group. Disadvantaged and especially vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization. Recommendations for alcohol intake are usually based on the number of standard drinks per day. In fact, red wine may be linked to more health benefits than any other alcoholic beverage (75, 76, 77, 78, 79). Moderate alcohol consumption may reduce symptoms of type 2 diabetes by enhancing the uptake of blood sugar by your cells.
In worst-case scenarios, severe alcohol-induced brain damage may impair people’s ability to lead an independent life. Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, and frequent intake can lead to increased fat inside liver cells. One of its main roles is to neutralize various toxic substances you consume. For this reason, your liver is particularly vulnerable to damage by alcohol intake (3). Ethanol, the active ingredient in alcoholic drinks, is generally referred to as “alcohol.” It can have powerful effects on your mental state. Some people drink small amounts at a time, while others tend to binge drink.
Alcohol is one of the most popular psychoactive substances in the world. It’s produced by yeasts that digest sugar in certain carb-rich foods, such as grapes — used to make wine — or substance abuse group activities grains — used to make beer. And the same goes for driving or if you need to be alert and able to react to changing situations. Your gut microbiome is a hotbed of bacteria that help keep your digestive system happy and healthy. The trillions of microbes in your colon and large and small intestines are critical to proper digestion. They also help fend off inflammation and support healthy metabolism.
In the meantime, we must acknowledge the complexity of existing evidence—and take care not to reduce it to a single, misleading conclusion. While moderate alcohol consumption may reduce your risk of heart disease, heavy drinking may increase it. One way to improve our collective understanding of the issue is to look at both observational and experimental data together whenever possible. When the data from both types of studies point in the same direction, we can have more confidence in the conclusion. For example, randomized controlled trials show that alcohol consumption raises levels of sex steroid hormones in the blood. Observational trials suggest that alcohol consumption also raises the risk of specific subtypes of breast cancer that respond to these hormones.
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