It can cause inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis) and lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), a potentially fatal disease. Heavy drinking can take a toll on the body. While many people drink in moderation, some don’t. Not everyone who likes to drink alcohol stops at just one. Department of Agriculture and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, and is widely used in the United States. The latest consensus places this point at no more than 1-2 drinks a day for men, and no more than 1 drink a day for women. Moderate drinking sits at the point at which the health benefits of alcohol clearly outweigh the risks. The definition of moderate drinking is something of a balancing act. Learn more about whether the type of alcohol consumed has any effect on health. Some experts have suggested that red wine makes the difference, but other research suggests that beverage choice appears to have little effect on cardiovascular benefit. Each delivers about 12 to 14 grams of alcohol on average, but there is a wider range now that microbrews and wine are being produced with higher alcohol content. In the U.S., 1 drink is usually considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey).

In fact, even among alcohol researchers, there’s no universally accepted standard drink definition. Exactly what constitutes “a drink” is also fairly fluid. In some studies, the term “moderate drinking” refers to less than 1 drink per day, while in others it means 3-4 drinks per day. Loose use of the terms “moderate” and “a drink” has fueled some of the ongoing debate about alcohol’s impact on health. What’s Moderate Alcohol Intake? What’s a Drink? It also alters mood, concentration, and coordination. It affects levels of lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and insulin in the blood, as well as inflammation and coagulation. It directly influences the stomach, brain, heart, gallbladder, and liver. The active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, a simple molecule called ethanol, affects the body in many different ways. Heavy drinking can damage the liver and heart, harm an unborn child, increase the chances of developing breast and some other cancers, contribute to depression and violence, and interfere with relationships.Īlcohol’s two-faced nature shouldn’t come as a surprise. In the U.S., alcohol is implicated in about half of fatal traffic accidents. Heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death in most countries. Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system, and probably protects against type 2 diabetes and gallstones. It’s safe to say that alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. The debate still simmers today, with a lively back-and-forth over whether alcohol is good for you or bad for you. Throughout the 10,000 or so years that humans have been drinking fermented beverages, they’ve also been arguing about their merits and demerits.

– The Bottom Line: Balancing Risks and Benefits Introduction – What’s Moderate Alcohol Intake? What’s a Drink? Moderate drinking can be healthy-but not for everyone.

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