A lesser known fact is that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancer.
Health experts from the American Institute of Cancer Research, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) all agree that alcohol is a carcinogen.
Even drinking up to half a glass puts you at risk of contracting certain cancers. Emma Veilleux, senior dietitian at UCLA’s Simms/Mann Center for Integrative Oncology, says alcohol is linked to at least seven different types of cancer.
According to the WHO, the health risks associated with alcohol begin with the first sip. The more you drink, the more harmful it is, but drinking less is always better.
One way people try to reduce their drinking is to participate in Dry January, when they avoid alcohol for the first month of the year.
Veilleux says this can be a great way to better understand your relationship with alcohol and experience the health benefits of reduced drinking. Even cutting back on your alcohol intake – known as “wet January” – can help.
Veilleux emphasizes that how much and how often you drink are both important. Small changes can always reduce your risk. Alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of cancer of the liver, breast, mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus and colon.
It may also be linked to stomach, pancreatic and prostate cancers. A global study in 2020 found that more than 740,000 new cases of cancer each year are linked to alcohol.
Some people believe that red wine is healthy because it contains resveratrol, a substance found in grapes that has antioxidant properties.
Although some studies show that red wine might reduce oxidative stress in people with diabetes, Veilleux says there are better and safer ways to get resveratrol without alcohol. The risks of alcohol itself outweigh the small benefits of antioxidants.
Alcohol can affect the levels of hormones, such as estrogen, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. This can interfere with how the body gets rid of harmful chemicals or absorbs important nutrients like folate. This can make it easier for other carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, to damage the body.
