11 Ways Alcohol Is Legitimately Healthy

Alcohol also increases estrogen levels, which fuel the growth of certain breast cancer cells. An adequate intake of folate, at least 400 micrograms a day, when taking at least 1 drink of alcohol daily appears to lessen this increased risk. And while moderate drinking may reduce the risk of diabetes for women, higher levels of drinking increase those risks for both men and women, according to a Swedish study inDiabetic Medicine.

• If you’re in good shape, moderate drinking makes you 25% to 40% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or hardened arteries.
• At five drinks per day, the risk was 37% higher, the study says.
• The risks of drinking alcohol excessively may outweigh any possible benefits.
• A 2018 study published inThe Lancetand coauthored by Sheron finds that no level of alcohol consumption improves health.
• In fact, the latest dietary guidelines make it clear that no one should begin drinking alcohol or drink more often on the basis of potential health benefits.

A 2018 study published inThe Lancetand coauthored by Sheron finds that no level of alcohol consumption improves health. In fact, your overall diabetes risk tends to drop with moderate alcohol consumption. However, when it comes to heavy drinking and binge drinking, your risk rises . If you’re in good shape, moderate drinking makes you 25% to 40% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or hardened arteries. This may be in part because small amounts of alcohol can raise your HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels. Heavy drinking, on the other hand, boosts your risk of heart disease.

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If you drink, limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. When sustained over a long period of time, alcohol abuse can also worsen other health conditions such as mood disorders, osteoporosis and high blood pressure, according to the National Institute on Aging. And, of course, drinking too much can lead to falls and broken bones, which are always a concern for seniors. However, some kombucha makers are now producing hard kombucha, which has an alcohol content similar to beer or hard seltzer. Regular kombucha has some health benefits, including reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and aiding in digestion.

“Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system, and probably protects against type 2 diabetes and gallstones. Heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death.” Some people are using drinks-tracking apps while others have turned to counseling or loved ones for accountability. Another study of more than 37,000 adults also linked BMI to the number of drinks consumed per day. In study after study, people who drink in moderation tend to be really different https://ecosoberhouse.com/ from both teetotalers and heavy drinkers — moderate drinkers are typically wealthier, healthier, better educated, and living in more affluent communities. And both people who abstain and those who binge are typically poorer, less educated, and more apt to have a history of substance use issues or chronic health problems than moderate drinkers. As a result, moderate drinkers may be healthier, independent of drinking status, than people who abstain or drink too much.

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That’s about 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of spirits. For people who want to determine whether their drinking habits qualify as a disorder, WHO created analcohol use disorder identification testto help you determine quickly where you might fall on the spectrum. It’s easy to complete and provides an answer online in minutes. Unlike most mood-altering, potentially addictive drugs, alcohol is not just legal, but widely used and accepted today. Two-thirds of all adults drink alcohol, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service. Nicole Gregory is an editor and writer in Los Angeles who has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, Vegetarian Times, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, New Woman and Living Fit, among other publications. She enjoys interviewing medical experts and researchers about their work and is passionate about communicating accurate and relevant health information to the public. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.

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Although it is well established that alcohol can cause cancer, this fact is still not widely known to the public in most countries. Similar to prior relevant studies, the research team initially noticed that moderate drinkers tend to show lower rates of heart disease. People who avoided drinking altogether were more likely to develop heart disease, but heavy drinkers were the most at-risk group by a wide margin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends women limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day and men two drinks per day, but it’s easy to unknowingly go over these limits. A drink is 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer that contains 5 percent alcohol, or one shot of liquor, though many mixed drinks contain more than one shot and some craft beers contain higher levels of alcohol. This may send a message that alcohol consumption is OK, experts say, but they warn that about 5 percent of cancers are linked to alcohol.

• For others, the advice tends to be, if you are a heavy drinker, you should cut back.
• Instead, it is the difference between about 13 of every 100 women developing breast cancer during their lifetime—the current average risk in the U.S.—and 17 to 18 of every 100 women developing the disease.
• In any given year, two-thirds of adults drink at some point, and in a typical month, more than half of people consume alcohol.
• If you enjoy a glass of wine or pint of beer with dinner, you might wonder whether alcohol is a friend or foe to arthritis.
• 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 .
• For example, “people who have hypertension probably should not drink or definitely drink at very, very low levels,” Dr. Piano said.

The Osteoarthritis Clinical Studies Forum Series features OA thought leaders from across the globe discussing the future of how the disease can be treated to improve patient outcomes. See how we’re aiming to address the growing shortage of arthritis specialists, especially in under-served parts of the country. The Arthritis Foundation’s JA camp programs give kids with arthritis and related childhood rheumatic diseases the chance to make lasting memories. For more information about alcohol’s effects on the body, please visit theInteractive Body featureon NIAAA’sCollege Drinking Prevention website. For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” .

The Last Word: Is Alcohol Use at Any Level Actually Healthy?

A 2018 review of studies tracking nearly 600,000 people found that negative health effects of drinking begin at much lower levels than previously thought—about 3 and a half ounces of alcohol a week. This caused concern that previous benefits had been exaggerated. Too much beer can cause a drop in blood glucose levels because alcohol is alcohol good for you prevents the liver from producing glucose. Although the liver can produce glucose if blood sugar drops too low, once these emergency stores are used up, more can’t be made right away if a person with Type 1 diabetes drinks too much. For those with Type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels increase, which can also be dangerous.