Alcohol

Guidelines

One unit of alcohol is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol.
Men and women should not drink more 14 units per week.
You should have several alcohol-free days each week.
If you drink too much, avoid alcohol for 48 hours to allow your body to recover.

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Alcohol increases HDL cholesterol which protects against heart disease.
The phenolic antioxidants in red wine may help to protect against heart dieseases as phenolics reduce LDL cholesterol.
Maximum health advantage for coronary heart disease lies at levels of intake between 1-2 units per day for men aged 35 and over and for women after menopause.
The level at which no harm is caused by alcohol increases with age.

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Alcohol is high in sugar, creating a high calorie density at 7kcal/g. These calories contain no nutritional vlue and are 'empty calories'.
This creates a negative energy balance in the body, which will lead to weight gain and contribute to the risk of obesity.
Alcohol reduces the amount of fat the body burns for energy. This is due to alcohol being treated as a toxin by the body, interrupting other biological processes to prioritise removing it.
Cutting back on the amount of alcohol you drink can consume can help to reduce calorie intake.
Many drinkers add to their calorie intake by having snacks when drinking. Often a night of drinking is followed by an unhealthy breakfast the next morning to cope with the hangover.
Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, which can make it harder to stick to healthy eating habits.

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Alcohol can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks or stroke. This increase can be caused by weight gain from excessive drinking.
Heavy drinking weakens the heart muscle, known as cardiomyopathy. This can cause premature death due to heart failure as the heart is unable to effeciently pump blood around the body. The heart may be enlarged.
Holiday Heart Syndrome occurs after episodes of heavy drinking, usually at least 15 units. The heart begins to beat irregularly, making the individual feel breathless. Blood pressure changes, increasing the risk of a heart attack and sudden death. People who have it may feel like they are having a heart attack.

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Alcohol is one of the main risk factors for cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus and liver. It is also linked to breast cancer.
Heavy drinking increases the risk of these cancers by 5-10 times, but even light drinking can increase the risk of mouth cancer.
Heavy consumption can lead to cirrhosis, a condition where the liver is repeatedly damaged and scar tissue builds up, increasing the risk of liver cancer.
Spirits are more harmful than beers and wines.
There is a 7-11% increase in risk of breast cancer for every alcoholic drink every day.
For every 2 units of alcohol a person drinks each day their risk of bowel cancer goes up by 8%.
Smoking and drinking together increases risk of liver cancer by 10 times. This is made worse due to heavy drinkers and smokers often having unhealthy diets.

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