Just One Drink a Day May Put Your Health at Risk, Report Finds
The federal report, released on Tuesday, found that consuming just one drink a day is linked to a wide range of negative health effects, including liver cirrhosis, several cancers, and injuries. While moderate drinking may have been previously thought to have health benefits, the report suggests that this is not the case.
Flawed Drinking Habits
Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, stated that the idea that a daily drink or two is beneficial for one’s health is not true. He emphasized that there is no level of drinking that is completely free of risk.
Government Reports
The report is the second of two government reports on alcohol consumption, with the first being released last month. The first report, carried out by a committee at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, found that moderate drinking was linked with a lower risk of death from any cause and a lower risk of death from heart disease, but also a higher risk of breast cancer.
New Recommendations
The current guidelines recommend that women limit their consumption to one drink a day and two for men. However, Humphreys suggested that it is time to reassess these guidelines and consider a more nuanced approach.
Criticism from the Industry
The alcohol industry has criticized the new report, stating that it is the product of a flawed, opaque, and biased process. They claim that the report heightens their concerns that the dietary guidelines for Americans will not be based on sound scientific evidence.
The Risks of Binge Drinking
The report found that Americans have a 1 in 1,000 risk of dying if they have more than seven drinks a week, or at least one drink a day. The risk jumps to 1 in 100 if they have more than nine drinks a week.
The Link to Cancer
The report identified a higher risk of dying from seven types of cancer, including colorectal, breast, and liver cancer, among alcohol drinkers. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for warning labels on alcoholic drinks due to this link.
Expert Opinions
Dr. Ahmed Tawakol, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, stated that there is an association with cancer and that there is no dose of alcohol for which the cancer risk goes down. Dr. Jane Figueiredo, a cancer epidemiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, emphasized the importance of looking at the whole picture and considering the risks and benefits for one’s entire health and well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the report suggests that even moderate drinking may not be as beneficial as previously thought, and that the risks of drinking outweigh the benefits. It is essential to reassess our approach to drinking and consider the potential negative consequences.
FAQs
* What is the recommended daily limit for drinking?
+ The current guidelines recommend that women limit their consumption to one drink a day and two for men.
* What are the risks associated with drinking?
+ The report found a link to liver cirrhosis, several cancers, and injuries.
* Can you recommend ways to lower my risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease without drinking?
+ Yes, there are many ways to do so, such as exercise, a healthy diet, and stress management.
