Many people assume the occasional beer or glass of wine at mealtimes or special occasions doesn’t pose much cause for concern. But drinking any amount of alcohol can potentially lead to unwanted health consequences. The definitions for a drink in the US are the common serving sizes for beer (12 ounces), wine (5 ounces), or distilled spirits/hard liquor (1.5 ounces). By contrast, another 2023 study found similar rates of death between nondrinkers and light to moderate drinkers. Drinking in moderation may have some protective effects for the cardiovascular system.
Ways to reduce risks
There are a number of authoritative Sober living home sources that classify alcohol as a carcinogen. Once you do that, it’s not difficult to understand why a surgeon general might want to say if it’s a carcinogen, there’s not a safe amount. And then a drink is defined by the type of alcohol we’re talking about. However, whether alcohol can really be heart-healthy is still debated, and it’s likely better to indulge in other antioxidant-rich treats like dark chocolate. We’ve all heard about the antioxidant benefits of red wine — and research has found that whiskey can have a similar effect. If you do drink, there are healthy alcohol choices you can make.
Risk factors for alcohol use disorder
“It can lead to tissue changes over time that can increase the risk for cancer” and other health problems, such as liver scarring known as cirrhosis. Among very heavy drinkers, alcohol metabolism and the resulting inflammation may even contribute to serious brain damage, possibly including shrinkage of the brain or alcohol-induced dementia, Wakeman says. 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. While moderate alcohol consumption may have some potential benefits, the negative effects of long-term or excessive alcohol drinking outweigh these benefits. Scientific evidence about drinking alcohol goes back nearly 100 years—and includes plenty of variability in alcohol’s health effects.
Alcohol-induced mental health conditions
Drinking alcohol seems to change the way the body metabolizes estrogen, leading to higher levels of the hormone. This may translate to an increased risk of estrogen-related breast cancers. Researchers are still learning why is alcohol good for you about exactly how alcohol affects hormones, according to the recent Surgeon General report. Plenty of factors influence how damaging acetaldehyde is to the body, Wakeman says.
Blood sugar between meals — known as fasting blood glucose — may also decline (51, 52). 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). Many people facing anxiety and depression drink intentionally to reduce stress and improve mood.
