Just one little drink a day may seriously affect your health

[Easterneye]

Best just to live a happy content life without any of it 

[blazes]

On 1/18/2025 at 7:48 AM, Tropicalevo said:

There is not much point in trying to identify just one thing that is bad for you.

Life style, diet, exercise regime, taking drugs (yes, cannabis/smoking as well), even genetics all get into the mix.

I am almost 74 and have two regular check ups every year. Work permit and life style.

I have been drinking alcohol daily for 60 years.

Too much when younger, not so much now.

Results from the medicals - very strong heart, could go on until I am 100.

Liver OK, but the rest........ oops.

Stage 4 COPD, Stage 3 kidney disease, bladder issues (prostate gone now) oh, and I was found to have 'inherited' gout when I was in my early 20's.

Usual old folk's tremors and forgetfulness - tryping (sic) is tricky these days.

Cannot exercise so much - cannot breath with the COPD but still do daily walks and running around looking after guests.

Still riding the ancient scooter- love going around the island on a sunny day - except in high season (now) and even go across to the mainland for a 'blast' now and again.

 

Which is more dangerous?

One drink per day, or the roads in Thailand.

 

 

Thanks.  This is one of the best contributions to an AN  thread on any subject that I have read in some time.   Begins with the good stuff, than turns to the "oops" stuff, and what a brave confession follows.  And it ends with a big laugh of common sense:  yes, we all know that entering a Thai road is potentially a daily sentence of death.

Well,  ok, ALL  of  us live with a daily sentence of death, but why bring it on early?

Thanks for that wonderful dose of common sense.  The best medicine.

[soalbundy]

8 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

So you don't go and see him?

50yo? Very very sad 

Do something!!!

Like what? watch him die? I haven't seen him since he was a child and have my own family here who need me. He has had several prison sentences (armed robbery being one of them) to his name which caused my parents to wash their hands of him. I wont judge him for that but I have no emotional contact to him, I wouldn't know him if he passed me in the street. I have a brother in the UK who will visit him but Birmingham is a long way from London, it's even further from Thailand.

[madone]

On 1/17/2025 at 10:41 AM, Rimmer said:

 

The idea that "moderate" alcohol consumption is safe—or even beneficial—has been increasingly challenged by scientific research. Here’s a closer look at how alcohol affects the body and why even small amounts may be harmful:

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1. Risks of One Alcoholic Drink a Day

• Cardiovascular Health: While some earlier studies suggested that moderate drinking, such as one drink per day, might reduce heart disease risk, more recent research indicates that these benefits are not as clear. Any amount of alcohol can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of arrhythmias and stroke.
• Cancer Risk: Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Even one drink per day can increase the risk of cancers like breast, esophageal, and liver cancer.
• Liver Strain: Alcohol is processed by the liver, and even small amounts can contribute to liver inflammation and damage over time.
• Mental Health: Alcohol is a depressant and can contribute to anxiety and depression, even at low levels of consumption.

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2. Risks of Two Alcoholic Drinks a Day

The risks become more pronounced with two or more drinks per day:

• Increased Mortality Risk: Studies have found that drinking two or more drinks daily can significantly increase the risk of premature death, primarily due to heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
• Cognitive Decline: Chronic alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Two drinks daily can accelerate this process.
• Addiction Potential: Regular consumption of two drinks a day may lead to dependence over time, as tolerance develops.
• Digestive System Damage: Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, increasing the risk of gastritis and ulcers, and contributes to pancreatitis.

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3. The "J-Curve" Myth

The "J-curve" hypothesis suggests that light drinkers have lower mortality than non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. However, this has been questioned:

• Bias in Studies: Many studies did not adequately separate lifelong abstainers from former drinkers (who may have quit due to health issues).
• Confounding Factors: Light drinkers might have other healthy lifestyle habits, skewing results.

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4. Alternatives for Cardiovascular Health

The supposed benefits of alcohol for heart health, like red wine’s antioxidants, can be obtained from non-alcoholic sources such as:

• Eating fruits and vegetables rich in polyphenols (e.g., berries, grapes).
• Engaging in regular physical activity.
• Maintaining a balanced diet low in processed foods.

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5. Emerging Guidelines

Public health guidelines are moving toward stricter recommendations:

• WHO Position: No amount of alcohol is considered safe for health.
• Canada’s 2023 Guidelines: Strongly recommend limiting alcohol consumption to two drinks per week.

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Conclusion

Even one alcoholic drink per day carries risks, particularly for cancer and cardiovascular health, and the harms escalate with two drinks. Choosing alternatives like non-alcoholic beverages or focusing on other health-promoting habits is a better way to reduce the risk of long-term harm.

 

 

I like how now nobody here even bothers to alter chat GPT's default formatting any longer.

[khunPer]

Too many narrow studies, just one multi-vitamin per day is also fatal, according to a study. I agree with the scientists saying that 80-90 percent of all studies are junk-studies. Lots of other scientific studies state that a reasonable small amount – two glass/units per day for males, one for women – of alcohol is healthy. Probably, the most important for health and longevity is being happy...👍

[superal]

1 drink a day can seriously affect your health ?

 

So can wedding cake , even more so .

 

 Many centurions drink a large whisky every night .

 

Unattractive women reaped the benefits from men who drink alcohol . 🍷🍺

[jesimps]

Maybe, but stress is more harmful in my opinion and alcohol is a great stress reliever in my case.  I'm 80yoa and still walk/jog every other day without too much of a problem. It's more difficult than 20 years ago, but I think I can safely put that down to old age. If I snuff it tomorrow I can't really grumble, there's no way I'm quitting now.

[SiSePuede419]

On 1/18/2025 at 6:04 AM, georgegeorgia said:

I do believe alcohol especially as you get older weakens you 

Alcohol after 65 greatly affects your risk of falling.

I've fallen several times in the past 7 years, all of which I was drunk.

Luckily no injuries, bones still strong.

My brother broke his hip at age 50 in a bike accident.  That's weak bones.

Different lifestyle, aka Lance Armstrong.

[UWEB]

On 1/18/2025 at 5:33 AM, soalbundy said:

Breathing is pretty risky as well.

At least at the moment in Thailand with all the smog.

[bangadang]

22 hours ago, khunPer said:

Too many narrow studies, just one multi-vitamin per day is also fatal, according to a study. I agree with the scientists saying that 80-90 percent of all studies are junk-studies. Lots of other scientific studies state that a reasonable small amount – two glass/units per day for males, one for women – of alcohol is healthy. Probably, the most important for health and longevity is being happy...👍

 At last, someone speaking sense!  just drink 3 or 4 days a week and 99% of you will be fine. Balance with the other stuff mentioned (water etc.). good luck!

[bangadang]

17 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Alcohol after 65 greatly affects your risk of falling.

I've fallen several times in the past 7 years, all of which I was drunk.

Luckily no injuries, bones still strong.

My brother broke his hip at age 50 in a bike accident.  That's weak bones.

Different lifestyle, aka Lance Armstrong.

 Falling is commonplace after 70 - when the balance thing in your brain goes haywire. My friends husband is 81 and has this problem - daily drinker but everyone agree to leave him alone to enjoy his last couple years. 

[SpaceKadet]

On 1/19/2025 at 4:15 AM, scubascuba3 said:

I like drinking once a week, the guys drinking daily are either alcoholics or pre-alcoholics

I am an ABLF, and proud of it. A 1 litre bottle of vodka lasts 3-4 days in my house. Then, of course, there is an occasional beer or wine as well. Became one is Saudi Arabia, where we would party whole night, and in the morning just go home, <deleted>showershave and go to work as normal.

 

Have been there, done that and did send the postcards through my life. Meeting people much over 70 makes me hope I croak soon. don't want to became like them, have no desire to live to be 100. Besides, I'll probably run out of money well before then. The world had gone to <deleted>, and you non drinking crowd can have it.

[Baht Simpson]

4 hours ago, bangadang said:

just drink 3 or 4 days a week and 99% of you will be fine.

Yes, but just make sure you don't binge drink the four days, which is just as bad. 

[madone]

Whatever

 

I stopped drinking when it stopped being fun. It wasn't until I cut it almost completely out of my life that I realized how much time I spent hungover, recovering.

 

 

[PJ71]

As soon as they legalised weed i stopped drinking alcohol.

 

Weed is much better for you - fact.

[madone]

2 hours ago, PJ71 said:

As soon as they legalised weed i stopped drinking alcohol.

 

Weed is much better for you - fact.

Neither the legality nor availbility of weed have been a hurdle to me.  

[PJ71]

1 hour ago, madone said:

Neither the legality nor availbility of weed have been a hurdle to me.  

I had not touched pot for 23 years prior to the legality of it here.

 

Too many consequences before 01.06.22

[scubascuba3]

4 hours ago, PJ71 said:

As soon as they legalised weed i stopped drinking alcohol.

 

Weed is much better for you - fact.

Depends how much alcohol or weed

[PJ71]

37 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Depends how much alcohol or weed

not really.

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, PJ71 said:

not really.

of course it's dependent on how much you use, i drink once a week and like it, i have no desire to switch to weed and get stoned

[PJ71]

50 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

of course it's dependent on how much you use, i drink once a week and like it, i have no desire to switch to weed and get stoned

ok, that's excellent.