But observational studies cannot prove cause-and-effect because moderate drinkers differ in many ways from non-drinkers and heavy drinkers—in diet, exercise, and smoking habits, for instance. 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. In August of 2018, two larger studies examined the impact of alcohol. The first one, published in The Lancet, included only people who drank at least some alcohol.
Drinking Patterns Matter
NBC News spoke to eight nutritionists and doctors about the risks and supposed benefits of alcohol. They generally agreed that abstaining is healthiest, but that for most people, a modest level of drinking doesn’t carry significant risk. A new analysis of the global impact of alcohol on injury and disease concluded that even moderate drinking is unsafe for health.
In the U.S., 1 drink is usually considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or What’s the difference between ecstasy and molly 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey). 3 Each delivers about 12 to 14 grams of alcohol on average, but there is a wider range now that microbrews and wine are being produced with higher alcohol content. Loose use of the terms “moderate” and “a drink” has fueled some of the ongoing debate about alcohol’s impact on health. Because women tend to have less water in their bodies than men, if a woman and a man of the same weight drank the same amount of alcohol, the woman’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) would likely be higher. This could help explain why women are more likely to have negative effects from alcohol.
No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
Your liver is a remarkable organ with hundreds of essential functions. Alcohol is one of the most popular psychoactive substances in the world. On the other, it is addictive and highly toxic — especially when you drink too much. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. And the same goes for driving or if you need to be alert and able to react to changing situations.
- It was noted that calorie intake (not from alcohol) tended to increase along with alcohol intake.
- Given the complexity of alcohol’s effects on the body and the complexity of the people who drink it, blanket recommendations about alcohol are out of the question.
- The long-term health risks of drinking include liver and heart disease, a weakened immune system and several types of cancer.
- Some people drink small amounts at a time, while others tend to binge drink.
- You probably already know that excessive drinking can affect you in more ways than one.
Which type of alcoholic beverage is best?
On the other hand, alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction are linked to severe negative effects on both physical and mental health. Keep in mind that your cancer risk may increase — regardless of how much you are drinking. Moderate drinking is defined as at most one standard drink per day for women and at most two for men, while heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks per day for women and four for men (80). Alcohol blocks the absorption of folate and inactivates folate in the blood and tissues. It’s possible that this interaction may be how alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast, colon, and other cancers. The definition of moderate drinking is something of a balancing act.
Alcohol is a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties. In many of today’s societies, alcoholic beverages are a routine part of the social landscape for many in the population. This is particularly true for those in social environments with high visibility and societal influence, nationally and internationally, where alcohol frequently accompanies socializing. In this context, it is easy to overlook or discount the health and social damage caused or contributed to by drinking. Similarly, in randomized trials, alcohol consumption lowers average blood sugar levels. In observational trials, it also appears to lower the risk of diabetes.
Beyond the Heart
In fact, because heavy drinking is a major cause of depression in some individuals, treating the underlying alcohol abuse may lead to big improvements (25, 26, 27). Because your brain is very sensitive to damage, chronic alcohol abuse may increase your risk of dementia and cause brain shrinkage in middle-aged and older adults (12, 13, 14, 15). Liver diseases caused by alcohol consumption are collectively known as alcoholic liver diseases. Binge drinking is behavior that raises blood alcohol levels to 0.08%. That usually means four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.
