Alcohol can damage the cells in your body causing them to grow out of control and become a cancerous tumor.
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Graham Walker / Pexels
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Alcohol is a carcinogen. This means that alcohol causes cancer. There is a strong scientific consensus that Alcohol consumption can cause various types of cancer, even when consumed in moderation. even one drink a day increases the risk of developing some cancers. The risk increases with the amount of drinks consumed.
Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of cancer mouth, throat, larynx, colon and rectum. Alcohol consumption at any level is associated with a increased risk of esophageal cancer and breast cancer. While excessive alcohol consumption is associated with an increase of approximately the double the risks of liver cancer.
The National Cancer Institute in the United States notes that evidence is also accumulating that alcohol use is associated with a increased risk of melanoma and cancer of the prostate and pancreas.
All types of alcoholic beverages increase the risk of cancer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that all types of alcoholic beverages, including red and white wine, beer, cocktails, and spirits, are linked to cancer.
How does alcohol increase the risk of cancer?
Alcohol can cause cancer in several ways:
Ethanol (pure alcohol) and its toxic by-product acetaldehyde damage cells in your body causing them to grow out of control and turn into a cancerous tumor.
Alcohol can damage DNA, proteins and lipids (fats) in the body through a process called oxidation.
Alcohol can influence hormone levels They can change the way cells grow and divide.
Alcohol can facilitate the absorption of other carcinogens such as tobacco, leading to cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus.
The National Cancer Institute explains that alcohol can impair the body’s ability to break down and absorb nutrients that may be associated with cancer risk, such as vitamin A, vitamin B complex, folate, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and carotenoids.
How much is moderate alcohol consumption?
It is considered with maximum moderate consumption two drinks limit per day for men and one drink maximum for women for women.
How much is equal to an alcoholic drink?
An alcoholic beverage equivalent is defined as containing 14 grams (0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol.
Beer: 12 fluid ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol)
Malt liquor: 8 ounces (7% alcohol content).
Wine: 5 fluid ounces of wine (12% alcohol)
Distillates (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, etc): 1.5 fluid ounces (40% alcohol).
No amount of alcohol is safe to avoid increasing your risk of cancer. But remember that the higher the consumption, the risk increases.
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