Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits

The statement adds that the potential benefits of light and moderate drinking on heart health and type 2 diabetes do not outweigh the cancer risk. While moderate alcohol consumption may reduce your risk of heart disease, heavy drinking may increase it. 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). 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.

Ways to reduce risks

Alcohol can also affect other parts of the body in both the short and the long term. A 2018 animal study found that resveratrol had protective effects on cardiovascular function in diabetic rats. Meanwhile, 54.9% of people reported that they had consumed alcohol in the past month. Red wine appears to be particularly beneficial because it is very high in healthy antioxidants. In fact, it may have adverse effects on development, growth, intelligence and behavior — which may affect the child for the rest of its life (63). Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cancers of the mouth, throat, colon, breast and liver (57, 58, 59).

Long-term effects of alcohol

But many studies suggest that, if consumed moderately, alcohol may actually be beneficial for health, protecting against some of the problems drinking too much of it can cause. The definition of a “standard” alcoholic drink depends on the alcohol content of the beverage. In the US, the NIAAA consider one alcoholic drink to be 5 oz of wine, 12 oz of beer or 1.5 oz of spirits. In the U.S., 1 drink is usually considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey).

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Alcohol makes it harder for your body’s immune system to make enough white blood cells to fight off germs and bacteria. People who have been drinking a lot of alcohol for a long time tend to get frequent infections https://ecosoberhouse.com/ like pneumonia and tuberculosis because their immune system has been worn down. A big part of alcohol recovery is taking steps to improve your lifestyle through changes like diet and exercise.

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Researchers have linked moderate alcohol consumption with increased insulin sensitivity, which may lower diabetes risk. The researchers from the Netherlands, for example, point to studies indicating that moderate alcohol use increases circulating concentrations of adiponectin – a protein involved in regulating glucose levels. These findings were supported by a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Nutrition. is alcohol good for you However, a prospective study following almost 15,000 men at four-year periods found only an increased risk of minor weight gain with higher intakes of alcohol. [19] Compared to those who did not change their alcohol intake, those who increased their intake by 2 or more drinks a day gained a little more than a half-pound. It was noted that calorie intake (not from alcohol) tended to increase along with alcohol intake.

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). Ethanol reduces communication between brain cells — a short-term effect responsible for many of the symptoms of being drunk. 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.

The 6 ‘Healthiest’ Types of Alcohol to Drink, According to Dietitians

Should you stop drinking?

What’s the healthiest energy drink? Avoid these 3 things, dietitians say

• Chronic alcohol abuse can wreak havoc on your body and brain, increasing your risk of many diseases.
• It directly influences the stomach, brain, heart, gallbladder, and liver.
• In fact, it’s natural to do so, says Christopher Winter, MD, a sleep medicine specialist and author of The Sleep Solution.
• Even drinking a little too much (binge drinking) on occasion can set off a chain reaction that affects your well-being.
• When the body’s cells do not respond to insulin and take up glucose, a person will have high blood sugar levels.