Previous research suggested that drinking alcohol in moderate amounts could be good for the heart. But a growing number of public health experts are now advising people to limit their alcohol consumption as much as possible to improve their health.
One of these experts is Dr. Timothy Naimi. He works at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. Naimi told the Associated Press: “Drinking less is a great way to be healthier.”
Earlier this month, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for changing his agency’s existing health warnings on alcoholic beverages to include cancer risks. Such a change would require congressional approval.
What is the harm in drinking alcohol?
The surgeon general’s proposed change is linked to research suggesting that alcohol consumption increases the risk of several types of cancer, including colon, liver, breast, mouth and throat cancer.
Alcohol breaks down in the body into a substance called acetaldehyde. This chemical can damage cells and prevent them from repairing themselves. The process can create conditions for cancer to grow.
Naimi said estimates show that thousands of deaths in the United States could be avoided each year if people followed the government’s dietary guidelines for alcohol consumption. The guidelines advise men to limit themselves to two drinks or less per day and women to one drink or less per day. An example drink would be equivalent to a 12 ounce can of beera 5 ounce glass of wine or a portion of alcohol.
U.S. Surgeon General Murthy noted that there are approximately 100,000 cases of alcohol-related cancer in the United States each year. And around 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths are reported each year. “When thinking about whether or how much to drink, keep in mind that less is more when it comes to cancer risk,” Murthy wrote on the social media service X.
What about limited consumption?
Medical experts say the idea that moderate alcohol consumption can lead to improvements or health benefits comes from flawed studies. The research compared groups of people based on how much they drank, with amounts typically measured at a single point in time. Because some previous studies did not follow the rules regarding which groups were measured, the researchers say they did not effectively prove cause and effect.
Naimi said people who report moderate drinking tend to have higher education levels, higher incomes and better health care resources. He explained that when these elements are taken into account, “the benefits tender disappear.”
Another problem, Naimi noted, was that most studies did not include young people. Nearly half of people who die from alcohol-related causes do so before the age of 50. Naimi said the groups studied did not effectively represent all drinkers. This likely created “an appearance” of advantage for moderate drinkers that is not real, he added.
What do international guidelines say?
Health guidelines related to alcohol consumption vary widely from country to country. But the overall message today is that drinking less is better for your health.
Britain, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia recently reviewed new evidence and lowered their guidelines for safe amounts of alcohol. Ireland plans to start requiring cancer warnings on alcohol containers from 2026.
Carina Ferreira-Borges is an alcohol advisor for the World Health Organization in Europe. She said scientists had changed their minds from previous research. Indeed, more recent studies suggest that alcohol consumption is linked “to more than 200 health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular illnesses and injuries. »
Naimi said: “The simple message that is best supported by the evidence is that if you drink, less is more when it comes to health. »
My name is Andrew Smith.
Carla K. Johnson reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learn English.
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Words in this story
beer – n. an alcoholic beverage made from malt and flavored with hops
wine – n. an alcoholic drink made from grape juice
alcohol– n. a strong alcoholic drink such as vodka or whiskey
tender – v. to be likely to do a particular thing
cardiovascular – adj. medical. of or relating to the heart and blood vessels
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