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Alcohol Consumption
Drinking as little as one alcoholic beverage a day raises the risk for breast cancer.
The increase is slight but with three drinks per day the risk rises significantly and in
direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed.
Beer, wine, spirits -- the type of drink makes no difference. It is the alcohol that
increases breast cancer risk, presumably by raising the level of circulating estrogen.
And, of course, the calories in drinks also increase risk by contributing to weight gain.
This doesn't mean you need to give up drinking entirely. We do get some
health-promoting antioxidants from alcoholic beverages, particularly from red wine
and dark beers.
It is believed that the B vitamin, folate, counteracts some of the negative effects of
alcohol, making it a good idea to eat folate-rich foods when you drink.
So don't hesitate to celebrate with a glass of champagne. But limit your weekly
consumption of alcoholic beverages to fewer than seven.
The increase is slight but with three drinks per day the risk rises significantly and in
direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed.
Beer, wine, spirits -- the type of drink makes no difference. It is the alcohol that
increases breast cancer risk, presumably by raising the level of circulating estrogen.
And, of course, the calories in drinks also increase risk by contributing to weight gain.
This doesn't mean you need to give up drinking entirely. We do get some
health-promoting antioxidants from alcoholic beverages, particularly from red wine
and dark beers.
It is believed that the B vitamin, folate, counteracts some of the negative effects of
alcohol, making it a good idea to eat folate-rich foods when you drink.
So don't hesitate to celebrate with a glass of champagne. But limit your weekly
consumption of alcoholic beverages to fewer than seven.
| 1 drink = 12 ounces of beer 5 ounces of wine 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor |
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention:
Reducing the Risk of Cancer with Healthy Food Choices and Physical Activity
LH Kushi, T Byers, C Doyle, EV Bandera, M McCullough, T Gansler, KS Andrews, MJ Thun
CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2006
American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention:
Reducing the Risk of Cancer with Healthy Food Choices and Physical Activity
LH Kushi, T Byers, C Doyle, EV Bandera, M McCullough, T Gansler, KS Andrews, MJ Thun
CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2006
