Over the years, we’ve heard a variety of information about whether alcohol consumption is good for our health. Some data said red wine was good for the heart, other stories said moderate consumption could help lower cholesterol and even increase blood flow. But the most recent information points to a different story. No alcohol consumption- even moderate– is good for our health. New information shows that alcohol consumption may even contribute to higher blood pressure. In light that by 2050, over 60% of Americans will have some kind of cardiovascular disease (which includes high blood pressure), addressing Americans’ love of alcoholic beverages could be one way to mitigate the rising risk.
When it comes to alcohol and weight loss, a wide variety of sources also support the fact that it doesn’t help shed the pounds. Apart from often being pegged as “empty calories”, meaning there is zero nutritional value to consuming alcohol, studies show that regular consumption can impact your metabolism and contribute to the risk of obesity. Impact to your hormones, including those that regulate your appetite, moderate stress and blood sugar, also comes into play.
Other risks of alcoholic use are well-known, like cirrhosis of the liver or Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) as a result of prolonged, heavy consumption. According to the CDC, drinking alcohol raises your risk of getting six kinds of cancer:
- Mouth and throat
- Voice box (larynx)
- Esophagus
- Colon and rectum
- Liver
- Breast (in women)
The CDC shares other long-term risks include:
- Stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
- Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.
- Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
- Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
- Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
- Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.
A new meta-analysis, published in Hypertension, outlines that regular, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). For the analysis, high blood pressure was defined as having an average systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg or treatment with an antihypertensive medication. Alcohol consumption was measured in terms of grams per day (g/d).
Evaluating 23 studies published between 1990 and 2023, researchers found a “positive and almost linear association” between alcohol consumption and hypertension. The increased risk was found in both sexes, but several other factors were also shown to contribute to levels of risk:
- Women who drank smaller amounts of alcohol seemed to see their hypertension risk increase less than it did in men (potentially attributed to hormonal differences that impact blood pressure levels)
- Hypertension risks appeared to rise more dramatically in white participants than they did in Black participants.
What about all those earlier studies?
One of the most significant issues with previous studies that pointed to moderate drinking being potentially beneficial is that they were largely observational, meaning that they didn’t prove causation. Other lifestyle habits were often overlooked although they could significantly impact the measured risk associated with alcohol consumption. For example, recent data highlights that older studies overlook that participants that were moderate drinkers tended to be “moderate in all ways”. Examples include having habits like regularly exercising, consuming a higher quality diet, earning a higher income, and even having better dental health- all factors that heavily influence health outcomes, and are not associated with alcohol habits.
A newer review, published in Jama Network Open, April 2023, evaluated over 100 studies of nearly 5 million adults that had consistently found moderate drinking was tied to decrease risk of all-cause mortality. The researchers involved in the review adjusted for study flaws and biases in previous studies. In doing so, “the appearance of the benefit from moderate drinking greatly diminishes and, in some cases, vanishes altogether,” said study co-author Tim Stockwell.
Alcohol consumption makes it difficult to lose excess weight and can contribute to adding on additional pounds. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, nearly 75 percent of all U.S. adults over the age of 20 are either overweight or obese. That is a staggering amount of people that then also carry the heightened risk of hypertension solely from their weight. Adding in regular alcohol intake further increases the risk. While there are many reasons that we should limit or eliminate alcohol intake, this latest data suggests that one avenue to address the rapidly rising factor of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. is to address alcohol intake.
An easy, great way to start reducing consumption is to incorporate delicious non-alcoholic “mocktails” into your routine. Often people reach for an alcoholic drink as a tangible symbol to the end of a hard day and the start of relaxation. Maintaining the same routine, preparing and serving up a tasty drink, but with healthy, beneficial ingredients can not only decrease any of the associated risks of alcohol but also boosts your wellness.
You can read more about why moderate drinking isn’t ideal for your health, here.
Read below for a variety of mocktail recipes to get you started!
-https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/health/alcohol-health-effects.html
-https://riahealth.com/blog/how-does-alcohol-affect-weight-loss/
-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025698/
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-https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/how-much-is-too-much/what-counts-as-a-drink/whats-a-standard-drink.aspx
-https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/health-conditions/heart-health/drink-alcohol-only-moderation
-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7020057/
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