Who doesn’t love a nice glass of wine with a fancy dinner or over a long conversation with a good friend? During long sunny summer days, when the weather is nice, and you can sit out on a patio, watching the sunset, it seems to be the perfect combination. Or during cold winter months when you cozy up next to the fire with a glass of vino and a good book. It seems that regardless of the season, we’re always finding opportunities to consume more wine or a glass of bubbly — guilt-free, of course, because drinking alcohol in moderation is healthy, right? Sorry ladies, but the Surgeon General says differently.
On January 3rd this year, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk for at least seven types of cancer including cancers of the breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx), regardless of the type of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, and spirits) that is consumed. For breast cancer specifically, 16.4% of total breast cancer cases are attributable to alcohol consumption. That is a sobering fact.
While scientific evidence for this connection has been growing over the past four decades, less than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a risk factor for cancer. It’s surprising even half were aware of the risk for cancer, especially for moderate drinkers.
If you’re reading this article, glass in hand, don’t delete these words before going any further. Finish your glass of wine, but please hear us out. You may be able to enjoy a little vino from time to time, but do understand the meaning of “a little” has changed drastically from the recommendations you’ve heard before.
Know the Facts – Buzz Kill Alert:
- A standard serving is:
- 5oz of wine (a splash more than a ½ cup, NOT a glass full)
- 12oz of beer or a wine cooler
- 5oz of 80-proof distilled spirits
- Moderate drinking for women of 1 serving a day is no longer considered “okay”.
- The negative effects of alcohol are more pronounced in women than men – females, in general, become dependent on alcohol more easily and more quickly than males.
- Roughly half of all cases of alcoholism in women begin after the age of 59.
- The latest research suggests women who drink even one alcoholic drink a day put themselves at an increased risk for several health conditions, particularly breast cancer.
Heart Healthy: Yay or Nay?
The occasional serving of alcohol once a week or on special occasions may be OK, especially for women over 65. If that’s all you consume, and you have no family history of cancer, especially breast cancer, you may be able to continue but consult your doctor first. For many and perhaps most of us, we need to heed the Surgeon General’s warning and stop drinking altogether.
In addition to cancer, alcohol makes us vulnerable to the following:
- Cardiovascular disease – the #1 killer of women worldwide: Excessive drinking raises blood pressure and is linked to cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, heart attack, and sudden cardiac death.
- Liver disease: Women who are dependent on alcohol are more likely to develop alcoholic fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis and die from cirrhosis of the liver.
- Brain Damage: Heavy alcohol consumption interferes with our cognitive function and can speed up our brain’s natural aging process, leading to dementia.
- Osteoporosis: And if the above isn’t bad enough, a frequent heavy pour can disrupt our body’s calcium balance and accelerate bone loss in postmenopausal women.
- Gastrointestinal Issues: Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining, contributing to stomach ulcers, heartburn, GERD, and gastritis. It also slows down the rate at which we digest our food, leading to gas and bloating.
- Obesity: Alcohol contains empty calories and stimulates our appetite. Studies show that we don’t replace other calories with alcohol; instead, we consume several hundred more calories on days we drink, leading to unhealthy weight gain. FYI: Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram – carbohydrates and protein have just 4 and 9 fat calories per gram. The higher the alcohol content of your wine, beer, or liquor, the more caloric. How many calories are in your favorite drink? Use this website to calculate.
- Adverse interaction with medications: Alcohol negatively interacts with several prescription and over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and other pain medications, cold, allergy, heartburn, cholesterol and blood pressure medications, and antidepressants. To see the complete list, click here.
What to Do:
If you enjoy your alcohol, severely limit your intake. And for those who don’t drink, there’s no reason to start. Consider popping open a bottle of sparkling water to celebrate the holidays, birthdays, and your continued good health!
If you’re concerned about your drinking and want to make a change, check out this home-based treatment option that allows you to work with online alcohol support groups, receive online alcohol therapy, and even receive medication to stop drinking.
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This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before drinking any alcohol.
