Each day, more and more evidence is being published connecting alcohol consumption and increased risk of developing cancer. The Cancer Council reported 3500 cases of cancer diagnosed each year in Australian adults can be attributed to drinking alcohol.
What??!! But what about those studies telling us drinking a glass of red wine each day could safeguard against heart disease? Well, the quality and quantity of research proving the risks of alcohol is vast and plentiful (it’s not based on one or two small studies), however it’s just not newsworthy and never sees the light of day. Let’s face it, the potential risks of developing cancers and other diseases far outweigh any potential benefits.
What is alcohol?
Alcohol is the common term for ethanol or ethyl alcohol, a chemical substance found in alcoholic beverages. Just in case you are thinking it, but are not sure… Yes, we put ethanol into our cars!!
Alcohol is a known carcinogen. This means that alcohol is known to cause cancer.
What cancer can it cause?
Drinking alcohol is a risk factor for seven types of cancer, including:
|
How does drinking alcohol increase my risk?
There are ongoing studies investigating the link between alcohol and cancer and new evidence is emerging each day. Today’s science indicates:
- Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, which irritates cells in the body, particularly the mouth and throat. Over a long period, even with moderate drinking, this cell irritation can lead to cancer.
- Alcohol causes cirrhosis of the liver, which is a risk factor for liver cancer.
- Alcohol increases oestrogen levels, which is linked to breast cancer.
- When alcohol is digested it breaks down into compounds that can cause cancer.
Is there a safe level?
It appears that the type of alcohol you drink (wine, beer, or spirits) makes no difference to the risk of cancer. Even small amounts of alcohol increases the risk of cancer, and the more you drink, the greater the risk. 1 in 3 Adults in NSW drink at levels that increase their risk of long-term harm. The evidence is clear, the risk of cancer increases with any and every alcoholic drink you have.
At High Vibes Drinks we don’t judge, we support everyone no matter where they are in life's journey. We wanted to provide our beautiful tribe this information as it is not something that is talked about enough or is common knowledge. Personally, I know this information is very confronting, if you have concerns, please reach out to your local doctor.
Have a wonderful day my beautiful tribe
Elise xx
For more information