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For example, light to moderate drinking is linked to reduced weight gain, whereas heavy drinking is linked to increased weight gain . Moderate alcohol consumption means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Different types of beer, wine and liquor have different amounts of alcohol.
In fact — while is alcohol good for you beer regularly may cause an increase in waist circumference — the well-known “beer belly” — wine consumption may have the opposite effect . Excessive alcohol consumption can have numerous adverse effects on your brain. Fatty liver gradually develops in 90% of those who drink more than a 1/2 ounce of alcohol per day .
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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 . In fact, because heavy drinking is a major cause of depression in some individuals, treating the underlying alcohol abuse may lead to big improvements . Many people facing anxiety and depression drink intentionally to reduce stress and improve mood.
If you enjoy sipping a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail now and then, keep moderation in mind to protect your health. What’s more, alcohol can contribute to obesity and the long list of health problems that can go along with it. Alcohol is a source of excess calories and a cause of weight gain that can be harmful in the long term.
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Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men. Learn more about whether the type of alcohol consumed has any effect on health. Loose use of the terms “moderate” and “a drink” has fueled some of the ongoing debate about alcohol’s impact on health. This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service. It can seriously harm the baby and may cause birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome.
And adults who choose to drink should do so in moderation and understand the risks. However, the potential benefits do not outweigh the risks of alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol can increase a person’s risk of developing other health conditions, such as cancer. “Alcohol” is very generic, as there are many forms of alcoholic beverages and they are not created equally.
Nutrition and healthy eating
They also found that there are absolutely no benefits from drinking. We doctors do not have any problems telling people to NOT SMOKE; so we should be able to now advise them to NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. This is the only safe level. Alcohol caused numerous medical problems in my life, disabled me, has damaged my mental/emotional health and I wish that I had never touched a drop! The makers, sellers, and drinkers of booze think everyone should drink but they are JUST PLAIN WRONG!!
Why do people drink alcohol?
A number of different motives for drinking alcohol have been examined, including drinking to enhance sociability, to increase power, to escape problems, to get drunk, for enjoyment, or for ritualistic reasons. Despite this diversity, most research has focused on two broad categories of motivation.
Although there haven’t been many https://ecosoberhouse.com/ on the effects of varying amounts of alcohol use by seniors, heavy drinking can be potentially harmful. Cancer.Certain cancers have been linked to excessive alcohol intake. One in particular is hepatocellular cancer, which is a cancer of the liver. Certain esophageal cancers and gastrointestinal cancers have also been related to excessive alcohol use. The recommendations and guidelines set forth by the government and health agencies for alcohol consumption are generally based on low to moderate intake.
Ways to reduce risks
In a combined analysis of six large prospective studies involving more than 320,000 women, researchers found that having 2-5 drinks a day compared with no drinks increased the chances of developing breast cancer as high as 41%. It did not matter whether the form of alcohol was wine, beer, or hard liquor. This doesn’t mean that 40% or so of women who have 2-5 drinks a day will get breast cancer. 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. This modest increase would translate to significantly more women with breast cancer each year. Whereas light or moderate alcohol consumption may be good for your heart, excessive drinking weakens the heart muscle and can prevent it from pumping blood properly.
Beer and wine have natural antioxidants called phenols, which help protect against heart disease and lower the risk of hypertension. Just stick to moderate consumption—keg stands will not translate into even healthier hearts. Dust off the bottle opener or corkscrew and get ready to crack one drink per day , or maybe even two to get these sweet alcohol health benefits without the hangover. In recent years, sociologists and epidemiologists have begun studying the long-term effects (.pdf) of loneliness. We are social primates, and when we’re cut off from the social network, we are more likely to die from just about everything .
It’s clear, he says, that drinking comes with health risks, and far less clear that it comes with any benefits. So while some moderate drinkers might never experience health problems from drinking, “if you look at all the risks and all the benefits of alcohol, it’s probably net harmful, on average, for the whole population,” he says. This kind of study design creates many biases that make it challenging to show cause and effect, leading to shakier results that can’t be fully relied on.