A recent study has provided insights into the effects on the human body from consuming a single alcoholic drink daily.
It’s well-established that excessive alcohol intake can harm the heart, liver, gut, and overall health. Health professionals worldwide agree that it is best to avoid alcohol altogether.
A new White House report delves into the impact of moderate alcohol consumption compared to abstinence.
The 81-page document, titled “Scientific Findings of the Alcohol Intake & Health Study for Public Comment,” compiles insights from top US scientists and professors specializing in public health, mental health, epidemiology, and substance use.
Their findings indicate that even one alcoholic drink per week can increase the risk of more than 20 health conditions compared to non-drinkers, such as infectious diseases, eight types of cancers, four cardiovascular diseases including stroke and heart failure, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, diabetes, and epilepsy. There were notable differences in risk between men and women when consuming alcohol daily.
For men, the research suggests that one drink per week can increase the risk of colon cancer by 16% and esophageal cancer by 6%, compared to those who abstain from alcohol.
For women, the report notes that a weekly drink raises the risk of pharyngeal, esophageal, and laryngeal cancers by 5%, as well as breast cancer.
The report further states: “Increased risk for these cancers begins with any alcohol use and increases with higher levels of use.
“Women experience a much greater risk of an alcohol-attributable cancer per drink consumed.”
Interestingly, the research also found that women who consume one drink per day have a lower risk of diabetes. Overall, people who have one drink per week show a reduced risk of diabetes and no increased risk of heart disease compared to non-drinkers.
The notion that moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial to heart health has been challenged by this new study, which finds that men consuming two units per day, and women consuming one, show ‘no difference in risk’ for heart disease compared to non-drinkers.
However, the report did uncover that those who drink moderately, no more than one drink per week, have a 10% lower risk of stroke, which drops to 8% for individuals consuming one drink a day or seven drinks per week.
Researchers caution that both men and women face a one in 1,000 chance of dying from alcohol use if they consume more than seven drinks a week, which increases to a one in 100 chance when exceeding nine drinks weekly.
Alcohol consumption is also linked to a heightened risk of both intentional and unintentional injuries, such as car accidents.
This research emerges as scientific evidence is being gathered to inform new drinking and dietary guidelines in the United States as Donald Trump, who abstains from alcohol, prepares to take office on January 20.
Current US guidelines recommend that men limit themselves to no more than two alcoholic drinks per day, while women should consume no more than one.
Kevin Shield, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and senior scientist in mental health and addiction, and co-author of the report, told The Daily Mail: “It’s important to note that our report found that no level of alcohol consumption is completely risk-free.
“The analysis results show that, among drinkers, the lower their alcohol consumption, the lower their risk of mortality.
“Conversely, as alcohol consumption increases, so does the risk of mortality. So when it comes to alcohol use, less is best for health.”