What Is Moderate Drinking: Safe Drinking Alcohol Tips And Benefits

It can cause cancer because it breaks down in the body to form a compound called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA. And according to the WHO, half of cancers in Europe linked to alcohol are caused by “light” or “moderate” consumption. Next, they studied a subset of 754 individuals who had undergone previous PET/CT brain imaging (primarily for cancer surveillance) to determine the effect of light/moderate alcohol consumption on resting stress-related neural network activity. The risks of moderate drinking include worsened health outcomes, developing a dependency on alcohol, and a higher risk of injury. That means even moderate amounts of alcohol could be harmful to your overall physical and mental health.

• Older adults may also be affected by alcohol differently than younger to middle-aged adults.
• Knowing your personal risk based on your habits can help you make the best decision for you.
• Gallstones and type 2 diabetes are also less likely to occur in moderate drinkers than in individuals who drink no alcohol at all.
• For example, many beers are about 5% alcohol, but some have higher percentages of alcohol.
• After more analysis of the research, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
• For decades, scientific studies suggested moderate drinking was better for most people’s health than not drinking at all, and could even help them live longer.

That’s why there are guidelines in place for https://ecosoberhouse.com/. If you’re looking to cut back on the alcohol, are sober curious, or just want to see your options out there in the world of moderate drinking, we have answers. Drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol can put you at risk for personal and health problems, including alcohol use disorder.

Moderated Drinking May Empower You to Give Up Drinking Entirely

You will keep track of what was accomplished and what still needs work. Maintaining moderation in drinking means starting out with a specific goal. The specific goal will depend on the individual’s particular situation. moderate drinking For example, someone might want to cut back on the amount they drink, or maybe slow down their rate of drinking. Another possible option is using medications such as naltrexone or disulfiram along with psychotherapy.

For example, any amount of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. As consumption goes up, the risk goes up for these cancers. Many people drink alcohol as a personal preference, during social activities, or as a part of cultural and religious practices. People who choose not to drink make that choice for the same reasons.

Groups That Should Not Drink

She studied at the University of Vermont, where she completed her undergraduate studies in nutrition, food science and dietetics, and attended the dietetic internship program at Massachusetts General Hospital to become a registered dietitian. She went on to earn a master’s degree in nutrition communication from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Prior to EatingWell, Lisa worked as a research dietitian at Griffin Hospital in Connecticut and also taught cooking and nutrition classes. She was a featured speaker at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in 2017.

In this article, we’ll discuss the difference between moderate drinking and binge drinking, the potential benefits of moderate drinking, and how you can achieve moderation. Moderation can allow you to feel in control and like you are making progress. Many who practice it find that they are better at understanding how much they are drinking, are able to reduce or eliminate binge drinking, and suffer fewer negative consequences from alcohol abuse. Moderation gives you control of your drinking and allows you to take back control of your life.

Risks of Moderate Drinking

There’s no need for guesswork when defining moderate drinking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created public health guidelines for U.S. adults. Keep in mind, too, that alcoholic drinks contribute little to no other nutritional value.