For years it was thought that drinking one peg of alcohol every day to keep your heart healthy and for people to live longer could actually be good for them.
Moderate drinking could be good, too, older research has also shown. But a new study has also questioned that popular belief and found that even drinking low alcohol may not be as safe or good as it once was.
The researchers behind the new study found that the purported health benefits of drinking one daily peg were likely driven by flaws in previous research.
Moderate drinkers were often compared with patients who had stopped drinking due to poor health, making moderate drinkers look healthier than they actually were, the researchers said.
Instead, moderate drinkers were compared to lifelong non-drinkers.
Their findings show little to no evidence that one drink per day of alcoholic drink is a health benefit. Indeed, even a little alcohol can increase the risk of a number of health problems over time.
Alcohol is associated with more than 200 diseases and injuries, health experts have warned. Alcohol consumption has been linked to liver disease and high blood pressure, certain cancers, stroke and digestive problems and mental health disorders.
Moderate drinking will not only increase the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer, but also the risk of cancer in the whole body.
Alcohol affects people differently, according to the study, with age, gender, genetics, health and lifestyle being significant factors that matter.
What seems like a harmless daily habit may be very dangerous for one person and not for the next.
Doctors say people should not start drinking alcohol for good health if that is what they want to drink. The people who already drink should slow down and not be fooled by a peg once in a while in the morning.
Anyone with existing health conditions, pregnant women and those on certain medications are advised to avoid drinking alcohol if they are not instructed otherwise by a doctor, said a healthcare provider.
Health experts recommend the following for heart health protection: a diet of fruits and vegetables, a healthy weight, proper sleep, and a tobacco-free lifestyle. Lifestyle habits that promote healthy eating and fitness are far more scientifically backed than alcohol consumption.
The findings are consistent with the growing worldwide evidence that there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption.
While drinking a drink every so often is a personal choice and not a health one, alcohol is no longer the one that is currently supported by the latest science.
As scientists continue to study the long-term effects of alcohol, one thing we are finding out more and more every day is that good health is better achieved with healthy lifestyle choices rather than a daily peg.
Before you make a change in drinking habits, we always recommend consulting a healthcare professional, especially if you have a medical condition or are worried about alcohol use.
