Alcohol and Cancer: Is There a Risk?
There's plenty of, er, buzz about the health benefits associated with having a glass or two of red wine a day,
but moderation is key to enjoying alcohol.
While it's true that red wine can have a positive effect on your heart, drinking too much of it — or any
other kind of alcohol — can have a negative impact on your health.
Regular intake of even a few drinks per week is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in women. Alcohol raises
the risk of several other cancers, too, such as those of the mouth and throat. And smoking may increase the risk for
those cancers even more.
If you drink, limit yourself to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.
What counts as a drink?
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits
If you don't normally drink, experts say you don't need to start in order to improve your health.
Talk with your doctor about lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, that can keep your body fit,
and be sure to get the tests for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes recommended for your age and gender.
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