Getting extra folate may cancel out this alcohol-related increase. [18] An earlier study suggested that getting 600 micrograms a day of folate could counteract the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on breast cancer risk. [17] There was no association with folate and increased breast cancer is alcohol good for you risk among women who drank low or no alcohol daily. 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.
Moderate drinking increases health risks compared to not drinking
The bubbles in Champagne also tend to make a person feel fuller, which may facilitate drinking less. Older research in mouse studies suggests that agavins present in tequila may aid weight loss and support bone health. However, results from animal studies do not necessarily translate to humans.
- Some types of alcohol that are lower in calories and carbohydrates include vodka soda and light beer.
- Alcohol may offer protective effects for certain body systems and may reduce the risk of developing some health conditions, including the following.
- Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious health consequences.
- 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.
- 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).
Alcohol and Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
According to the American Diabetes Association, moderate alcohol consumption may improve blood glucose management and sensitivity to insulin. Type 2 diabetes causes the body’s cells to take in less glucose, or sugar, from the blood as a result of insulin resistance. When the body’s cells do not respond to insulin and take up glucose, a person will have high blood sugar levels. Moderate alcohol consumption has some potential benefits for the body, but these do not outweigh the risks of alcohol consumption.
Risks start from the first drop
People should consult a doctor to discuss ways to reduce the risk and treat the effects of certain health conditions. Many different subtypes of alcohol dependence exist, characterized by alcohol cravings, inability to abstain or loss of self-control when drinking (71). Numerous factors can predispose people to problematic drinking, such as family history, social environment, mental health and genetics. Alcohol dependence is one of the main causes of alcohol abuse and disability in the US and a strong risk factor for various diseases (70). The cells lining your mouth and throat are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol. It is a broad category of diseases, the most common of which are coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Other types of alcohol, such as red wine, are high in antioxidant polyphenols. Made from apples, cider contains less alcohol content than wine but is also rich in antioxidant plant compounds. These antioxidants may help protect cells from damage that occurs due to free radicals.
Surprising Ways Alcohol May Be Good for You
With continued alcohol use, steatotic liver disease can lead to liver fibrosis. Eventually, you can develop permanent and irreversible scarring in your liver, which is called cirrhosis. It’s hard to escape the message these days that every sip of wine, every swig of beer is bad for your health. NIAAA Director George F. Koob, Ph.D., said that as of May 2023, the institute is not aware of specific health guidelines on alcohol consumption for transgender or gender-nonconforming individuals.
Dilute and sip slowly. Dilute your wine or cocktail with sparkling water and ice. Take your time drinking it.
Drinking in moderation may have some protective effects for the cardiovascular system. It may also increase insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of dementia. According to a 2020 review, alcohol consumption at low and moderate levels may help protect against cardiovascular diseases. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate drinking consists of two drinks or less per day for men of legal drinking age and one drink or less per day for women of legal drinking age. Recommendations for alcohol intake are usually based on the number of standard drinks per day.
As of 2021, 29.5 million people aged 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder in the past year. If you are on any medications, talk to your health care provider about how alcohol may affect them. A 2017 study found that people who had a dependence on alcohol had a higher prevalence of dental issues — such as dental caries and periodontitis — than those who did not have a dependence on alcohol.
Now the pendulum has swung so far in the opposite direction that contemporary narratives suggest every ounce of alcohol is dangerous. Until gold-standard experiments are performed, we won’t truly know. In the meantime, we must acknowledge the complexity of existing evidence—and take care not to reduce it to a single, misleading https://ecosoberhouse.com/ conclusion. Instead, much alcohol research is observational, meaning it follows large groups of drinkers and abstainers over time. 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.
- If you’re going to drink alcohol on occasion, these have been found to have some benefits for blood sugar balance, gut health, and more, according to research and RDs.
- To get a clearer picture of the health effects of alcohol, researchers and journalists must be far more attuned to the nuances of this highly complex issue.
- And that’s on top of the toll that alcohol use can take on relationships, not to mention the potential for financial strain and legal troubles.
Additional benefits may include protection from some neurodegenerative diseases. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.