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Alcohol - Red wine and beer

12.4 Health risks associated with alcohol

The benefits of consuming alcohol are also accompanied by a few risks.

  ~ Alcohol may increase the risk of cancer
  ~ Alcohol can damage organs especially the liver, even to the extent of cirrhosis (a condition that predisposes to diabetes).
  ~ Alcohol can damage the heart muscle resulting in caridomyopathy (an enlarged heart)
  ~ Alcohol can have an undesirable effect on behaviour and this can have a detrimental affect of social activity.
  ~ Alcohol can increase another blood fat known as triglycerides and therefore increase the risk of atherosclerosis
  ~ Alcohol increases blood pressure and therefore the risk of stroke and heart disease.
  ~ Alcohol damages the pancreas therefore increasing the risk of diabetes.
  ~ Alcohol can lead to thaimin deficiency, a nutrient important for heart function.
Read about safe consumption levels


Safe consumption levels

The amount of alcohol that can be safely consumed depends on the individual whose genetic susceptibility and other lifestyle factors influence the consequences; and the prevailing patterns of disease in the society of which one lives. For example, those who smoke as well as drink, and/or have a family history of diabetes would be at greater risk of the adverse effects of alcohol. An individual who lives in a society with high stroke rates and low coronary rates, will have more to lose from drinking alcohol than to gain. But in general, for those who enjoy a drink, it is wise to consume alcoholic drinks only with food because this decreases the level of alcohol achieved in blood. Furthermore, since there are gender differences in body composition, women can manage one standard drink (8-10 grams of ethanol) and men two standard drinks per day safely.

Learn about standard drinks.
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