Alcohol May Boost Your Cancer Risk

Did you have fun imbibing more than usual over the holiday season? Well, here’s your new year’s wake up call. In a recent report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, apparently there’s new evidence that alcohol consumption, even moderate amounts, can increase the occurrence of certain cancers.

Just having one little drink a day slightly raises a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. And moderate drinking, which is a measly one drink a day for women and two for men, your risk of contracting liver, mouth, throat, esophageal and colorectal cancers increases two to five times! Heavy drinkers, which is eight or more drinks a week for women and 15 or more a week for men, increases the risk even further.

Here’s the science: Our bodies break down alcohol into a carcinogen called acetaldehyde, which can lead to DNA mutations that become cancer.   These findings are raising alarm bells for many, especially when binge drinking is reportedly on the rise across many segments of the population. And it certainly doesn’t help that wine glasses have morphed into tumblers with stems in recent years, tricking people into believing they’re having a modest glass of vino when in fact, they’re super sizing that Pinot Grigio.

However, unless you’re at high risk for getting breast cancer, since previous studies have shown that light to moderate alcohol consumption lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease and even diabetes, you may want to stop short of tee-totaling just yet. Just perhaps practice a little restraint when you head to the pub?

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