The latest research out of Brown University finds that as little as one drink a day comes with serious health risks. Two drinks bring even greater health risks. So, if you’re thinking it’s time to quit drinking, you’re on to something, reports Juan Siliezar for the Brown School of Public Health.
Researchers at Brown found that drinking alcohol has no protective effect for your health. And, if you’re drinking one drink a day, there is a real risk of death or disability brought on by alcohol-related cancer and liver disease. Other researchers have found that people who give up alcohol altogether live longer.
The Brown researchers further found that the risk of death increases significantly with each additional drink. The risk is 1 in 1,000 for people who drink a drink a day. If they drink two additional drinks a week, nine drinks a week, the risk is 1 in 100 deaths. And people who drink two drinks a day increase their risk of alcohol-related death to roughly 1 in 25.
The takeaway: If you’re not inclined to give up alcohol altogether, limit your consumption of alcohol as much as possible. Consider trying a nonalcoholic drink or drinking lemonade.
If you’d like help reducing your alcohol intake, Medicare covers alcohol screenings and counseling.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Skip the alcohol, try a nonalcoholic drink
- Give up alcohol altogether, live longer
- Drink lemonade, not alcohol, improve your health
- Alcohol: Are you feeling its effects?
- Medicare covers alcohol screenings and counseling
