Alcohol
Healthy Drinks
Alcohol Boasts Some Benefits — but Only if You Drink It the Right Way
By Tiffany AyudaUpdated July 10, 2020
Reviewed by Kay Peck, RD, MPH
Hand pouring red wine in glasses
Although a cocktail, a beer or a glass of wine can be both relaxing and good for the heart, it might also play a role in cancer development, liver and heart damage and depression.
Image Credit: Instants/E+/GettyImages
If you don’t normally drink alcohol, there’s no good reason to start now.
In fact, health experts say there isn’t a safe level of drinking alcohol, as alcohol use is the seventh leading risk factor for deaths globally, according to a landmark August 2018 study in The Lancet.
But if you like to kick back with a glass of wine or a cold beer every now and then, there are healthier and safer ways to drink — and the first step is to curb your intake.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends women limit their intake to one alcoholic drink per day and men up to two drinks. What does that look like exactly? Here’s a breakdown from the CDC:
12 ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol content)
8 ounces of malt liquor (7 percent alcohol content)
5 ounces of wine (12 percent alcohol content)
1.5 ounces or a shot of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor, such as gin, rum, vodka and whiskey
One way to approach alcohol is to think about why you want to drink. Will it help you relax and feel good? Or will it make your anxiety worse? Are you using it to cope with personal issues going on in your life?
“Pace yourself and make sure you are mindful of your motivations for drinking. If you are drinking to avoid feelings or out of boredom, it can be helpful to engage in another healthier activity or call a friend,” Alana Kessler, RD, functional and holistic nutrition and wellness expert, tells LIVESTRONG.com.
How alcohol affects someone depends on the person, so if you do drink, make sure to limit yourself to one drink (for women) or two drinks (for men) per day maximum — and be mindful of how it affects you.
If you feel like you’re drinking too much or are on prescription medications or being treated for any health conditions, it’s important to talk to your doctor about safe alcohol use for you.