WHY SO MANY WOMEN ARE CHOOSING TO GO Alcohol-free
First for Women|November 18, 2024
More and more research reveals the dangers of drinkingespecially as we age. Here's what you need to know
STACEY COLINO
WHY SO MANY WOMEN ARE CHOOSING TO GO Alcohol-free

UNTIL RECENTLY, consuming moderate amounts of alcohol was thought to be healthy for your heart and brain, and maybe other aspects of health. But the message has changed, with the World Health Organization declaring in 2023 that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. If you feel like you’re experiencing informational whiplash, you’re hardly alone.

So what’s the real story? It’s complicated. For one thing, recent studies have called into question the findings of earlier ones that suggested alcohol is beneficial for cardiovascular health. “The evidence became murkier,” says Alison Moore, M.D., MPH, a professor of medicine and director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging and the Center for Healthy Aging at UC San Diego. Indeed, newer research suggests that women who enjoy more than one alcoholic beverage per day are more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who drink less. And a study involving 107,845 adults in Europe found that consuming 1.2 drinks per day—an amount that’s considered “moderate”—is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (a heart arrhythmia that can lead to stroke or heart failure).

For another thing, alcohol is now recognized as a carcinogen and its consumption has been linked to cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon. Recent research also suggests that alcohol consumption may accelerate genetic aging. Together, these findings have led some health organizations to change their recommendations.

But the U.S. Dietary Guidelines still advise women who drink alcohol to limit their intake to one drink per day or less (men should have a maximum of two drinks per day). To be clear, this recommendation is aimed at reducing risks associated with drinking alcohol, not to improve your health. So if you don’t already consume alcohol, the latest research shows that there isn’t a health-related reason to start.

この記事は First for Women の November 18, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は First for Women の November 18, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

FIRST FOR WOMENのその他の記事すべて表示
FIONA DAVIS' The Stolen Queen
First for Women

FIONA DAVIS' The Stolen Queen

Known for her glamorous historical fiction novels featuring iconic New York City landmarks like The New York Public Library and Radio City Music Hall, Fiona Davis has sold more than a million books and counting!

time-read
4 分  |
December 16, 2024
Deck the Halls on a Dime
First for Women

Deck the Halls on a Dime

Americans spend hundreds of dollars on holiday decorations each year. To the rescue: FIRST polled decorating pros on how to make your home merry and bright for less!

time-read
2 分  |
December 16, 2024
FAITH & LAUGHTER
First for Women

FAITH & LAUGHTER

GIVE ME STRENGTH AS A SANDWICH GENERATION’ CAREGIVER

time-read
3 分  |
December 16, 2024
CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE HOPE TO MILITARY FAMILIES
First for Women

CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE HOPE TO MILITARY FAMILIES

For many soldiers and their loved ones, the holidays can be difficult, both emotionally and financially. But thanks to the Trees for Troops program, hundreds of their homes and hearts are filled with Christmas cheer every year

time-read
3 分  |
December 16, 2024
MARTHA STEWART'S NEW Cookbook
First for Women

MARTHA STEWART'S NEW Cookbook

Step into Martha Stewart's kitchen with a collection of timeless recipes sure to elevate your everyday meals and make holiday celebrations extra special

time-read
4 分  |
December 16, 2024
CONFIDENCE, TRADITIONS & ALL THE Good Things
First for Women

CONFIDENCE, TRADITIONS & ALL THE Good Things

FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Martha Stewart has been a lifestyle icon.

time-read
4 分  |
December 16, 2024
POWER UP YOUR PROTEIN WITH CREATINE
First for Women

POWER UP YOUR PROTEIN WITH CREATINE

There are some stories-like How the Grinch Stole Christmas-that we know by heart. Another tale that may be all too familiar to many of us: How we try to slim, only to regain more weight than we lost.

time-read
5 分  |
December 16, 2024
FOUND: HELP FOR HOLIDAY SLEEP LOSS
First for Women

FOUND: HELP FOR HOLIDAY SLEEP LOSS

If you're tossing and turning a lot more this time of year, you're not alone: New research shows Americans lose nearly 40 minutes of sleep each night over the hectic holiday season. To the rescue: Experts share simple tips to transform sleepless nights into sweet, sugarplum dreams, including the strategy that works for 9 in 10 people

time-read
3 分  |
December 16, 2024
5 WAYS TO SICKPROOF YOUR HOLIDAYS
First for Women

5 WAYS TO SICKPROOF YOUR HOLIDAYS

Stay healthy all season with these clever-and easy-strategies

time-read
1 min  |
December 16, 2024
Radiant in Red
First for Women

Radiant in Red

3 steps to wearing the bold hue at any age

time-read
2 分  |
December 16, 2024