There is a general misconception that drinking wine decreases your risk of cancer. Although wine does contain a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol, it also contains alcohol, a known risk factor for cancer development. Research consistently shows that alcoholic drinks – wine, beer and hard liquor – increase the risk of hormone related breast cancers.
Compared to women who don’t drink at all, women who drink three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up another 10% for each additional drink women regularly have each day. So what can you do?
If you want to decrease your risk of breast cancer, it makes sense to limit your alcohol intake. You may choose to stop drinking alcohol completely. But if you plan to continue drinking, try to have two or fewer alcoholic drinks per week.
I know most of us like to go out and have a drink or two with friends and this is completely understandable. Have fun. But, then limiting the amount of alcohol during stay at home nights is important. For many of us it might be time to say goodbye to our daily glass of wine with dinner. Our future selves will thank us 🙂
If you’re interested in learning more about alcohol and cancer risk, visit:
http://www.breastcancer.org/ and http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/alcohol
Best,
drkristy
Dr. Kristy Vermeulen, ND