A lesser known fact is that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancer.
Health experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) all agree that alcohol is a carcinogen.
Even drinking just half a glass can increase your risk of developing certain cancers. Emma Veilleux, a senior dietitian at UCLA’s Simms/Mann Center for Integrative Oncology, says alcohol has been linked to at least seven different types of cancer.
According to the WHO, the health risks of alcohol start with the very first sip. The more you drink, the more harmful it is, but drinking less is always better.
One way people try to cut back is by participating in Dry January, when they avoid alcohol during 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 drinking less. Even reducing your alcohol intake – known as ‘damp January’ – can help.
Veilleux points out that how much and how often you drink both matter. Small changes can still reduce your risk. Alcohol use is linked to a higher risk of liver, breast, mouth, throat, voice box, esophageal and colon cancer.
It may also be linked to stomach, pancreatic and prostate cancer. A 2020 global study 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 compound found in grapes that has antioxidant properties.
Although some studies show that red wine can reduce oxidative stress in people with diabetes, Veilleux says there are better and safer ways to consume resveratrol without alcohol. The risks of the alcohol itself outweigh any minor benefits of the antioxidants.
Alcohol can affect hormone levels, such as estrogen, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. It can interfere with the way the body removes harmful chemicals or absorbs important nutrients such as folic acid. This can make it easier for other carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, to damage the body.
