Although one study says that alcohol may boosts memory retention, regular intake may outweigh the benefits. As a matter of fact, daily alcohol intake could shorten a person's life expectancy.
CNN reports one study that found drinking over 100 grams of alcohol per week can increase risk of death. What's even more shocking, it causes all causes of death eventually lowering a person's life expectancy.
What Does A 100-Gram of Alcohol Look Like?
A 100-gram of alcohol is roughly equal to 7 standard drinks as per the United States guideline. In the U.K., a 100-gram of alcohol is equal to 5 to 6 glasses of wine.
Alcohol may not be harmful with moderate consumption. Perhaps, a shot of red wine each week in which the Mediterranean diet recommends.
The Study
A team of researchers studied almost 600,000 alcohol drinkers and their drinking habits. The researchers reviewed 83 studies in 19 countries where 50% of these subjects were drinking over 100 grams of alcohol per week.
This amount of alcohol intake is 8.4% more than 350 grams per week. Additionally, the researchers also take into account the subjects' sex, diabetes status, age, smoking habits and other factors affecting cardiovascular health.
They found that people who drink 100 grams to 200 grams of alcohol per week are at risk of shortening their lifespan of a 40-year old in just six months. Furthermore, consuming 200 grams to 350 grams of alcohol per week could take 1 to 2 years of a person's lifespan.
Consuming 350 grams or more per week could reduce a person's lifespan by 4 to 5 years.
A more recent analysis study1 at the Lancet confirms no level of alcohol is beneficial for health. Here is the conclusion of the recent study from 195 countries from 1990-2016.
Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden worldwide, accounting for nearly 10% of global deaths among populations aged 15–49 years, and poses dire ramifications for future population health in the absence of policy action today. The widely held view of the health benefits of alcohol needs revising, particularly as improved methods and analyses continue to show how much alcohol use contributes to global death and disability. Our results show that the safest level of drinking is none. This level is in conflict with most health guidelines, which espouse health benefits associated with consuming up to two drinks per day. Alcohol use contributes to health loss from many causes and exacts its toll across the lifespan, particularly among men.
Hence, if you care about your health and longevity, drink coffee, instead. Other valuable ways to achieve longevity includes;
- Get married and pick a good wife
- A daily walk
- Running
- Staying socially active
- Regular exercise
- Sticking to good nutrition like eating nuts and aphrosidiac foods
What Really Happen In The Body When You Drink Alcohol?
Now that you know that even a shot of alcohol a day is bad, let us quickly explore what alcohol does to your body. Because you take in alcohol, it will not simply become urine but passes through the liver, into the bloodstream and eventually affects the brain.
Knowing the basics of how alcohol affects your body could hopefully, encourage you to minimize its consumption or even avoid it at all.
Angela Wood, the led author of the study and biostatistician from the University of Cambridge says;
Conflicting Data
There are previous studies2 such as this one that says alcohol consumption is beneficial to heart health. However, note that these studies emphasize moderate alcohol consumption.
Angela Wood adds in a CNN interview;
Alcohol consumption is associated with a slightly lower risk of non-fatal heart attacks, but this must be balanced against the higher risk associated with other serious — and potentially fatal — cardiovascular diseases.
Moreover, study co-author Dr. Dan G. Blazer of Duke University says;
This study has shown that drinking alcohol at levels which were believed to be safe is actually linked with lower life expectancy and several adverse health outcomes.
One professor of the University of Sheffield, Tim Chico adds;
It is difficult to accurately estimate the risks of alcohol to health, but the large size and design of this study make its findings both reliable and applicable to countries around the world.
Additionally, Chico says and highlights that cigarette smokers lose an average of 10 years due to the unhealthy effects of smoking. He also says that this study shows that even with balance consumption, alcohol drinking has no health benefits.
Should You Quit Drinking Alcohol?
Obviously, the answer is yes. However, most people have a difficulty of breaking free from this habit. If you're among those who struggle from totally quitting alcohol, start small.
Begin with small changes and these can add up until you will be able to quit alcohol completely.
What Would Happen When Quit Drinking Alcohol?
Quit drinking alcohol offers many health benefits. However, one of the reasons many people struggle quitting drinking alcohol is withdrawal.
How To Overcome Alcohol Withdrawal?
Just like with any addiction, there are ways you can do to overcome alcohol withdrawal. Probably, among the most important things you should do is increase your fruits and vegetable intake.
Additionally, taking cold showers not only boosts a man's testosterone level but also provide many health benefits. Having regular cold showers somewhat help your body reset physically especially when you're experiencing strong urges to drink. Cold showers can also help achieve mental clarity. So, why not take advantage of it.
If you really have a difficult time doing it alone, ask for help. There are organizations willing to help you in this process.
Just don't quit finding ways until you can fully quit drinking alcohol. There are ways and more ways to stumble when one or two methods do not work for you. And, if you're among those who are meticulous at looking certain minute data that some people live longer even though they're drinking alcohol.
Well, it is absolutely true there are few people with regular shots of alcohol and even smoke but healthier and live longer than those who don't. Why is it? Well, it's not really clear. Probably, this is the number one reason studies have conflicting findings.
Perhaps, the best way to approach it is through self-observation and common sense. If you feel drinking makes you feel good and healthy, then continue doing so. Of course, moderation is always key.
On the other hand, if you have problems even with just a single shot, then it is a clear indication alcohol works negatively for you.