By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD
A leisurely glass of red wine with a good meal never hurt anyone – or did it? Many ‘experts’ point out that wine is not always harmful, and in fact, a little of it every day can help your stomach and ward off many illnesses, as the Good Book says.
Image Credit: TnkImages/Shutterstock.com
Nonetheless, many public health organizations feel and espouse the necessity of banning red wine altogether, along with other alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is present in wine. This simple statement is enough to explain how wine harms the human body.
Is Alcohol Good for Health?
Why do so many studies say low doses of wine are beneficial to health? Researchers say these conclusions come from flawed methods of study, failing to consider differences in nutrition, lifestyle, and social factors.
Alcohol affects human health in many ways, such as the accumulation of toxins that adversely affect the body’s organs and tissues; the occurrence of acute intoxication or drunkenness that causes injuries or poisoning; and alcohol abuse disorders which can cause social, intellectual and physical impairments, as well as self-harm and violent behavior towards others.
Problems with Binge Drinking
Binge drinking, which refers to drinking excessively on a single occasion rather than constant heavy drinking, can cause short-term side effects like:
- Dizziness
- Poor judgment and coordination
- Memory loss
- Vomiting
- Hangovers
- Slowing of reflexes
- Accidental injury
- Road accidents
- Self-harm
- Violence
- Potentially lethal alcohol poisoning.
Does Alcohol Cause Cancer?
A specialist working group from the World Health Organization (WHO) summed up its review of exposure data and cancer incidence in both humans and animals, and also mechanistic studies, with the conclusion that alcoholic drinks cause human cancer.
Wine increases the risk of cancer especially of the breast, with moderate amounts of alcohol, to a level like that of smoking 10 cigarettes a week.
The researchers in one study found that drinking a bottle of wine a week was associated with a cancer risk of 1% and 1.4% in men and women respectively. This rise was the same that would be caused by smoking 10 cigarettes a week, in women, or 5 a week, for men.
The absolute risk of breast cancer associated with this level of drinking is 0.8% in women who do not smoke.
In other words, breast cancer accounts for over half of the additional cancer risk in women who drink moderately but do not smoke. In men, however, the additional cancer risk is due to tumors of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bowel, and liver.
At higher levels of drinking, such as 3 bottles of wine a week, the absolute risk of cancer over a lifetime is almost doubled for men, to 1.9%, but closer to 2.5 times for women at 3.6%, of which 2.4% is driven by breast cancer alone.
One researcher estimated that at current levels of female alcohol consumption (one bottle a week) in the UK, including social drinking, approximately 339,000 extra cancers could result.
Smoking is a cocarcinogen that increases the cancer-inducing properties of alcohol especially for cancers of the upper airway and digestive tract.
How does wine cause cancer?
Both the ethanol and the acetaldehyde in alcoholic drinks may cause human cancer.
The relationship with cancer is dose-dependent, in that the more drinks are taken per week, the higher are the odds of cancer in all these areas. Importantly, there is no lower limit below which drinking is risk-free.
Alcohol contains ethanol, which is metabolized to acetaldehyde and reactive oxygen species. Both produce cancer by binding to DNA and thus promoting the formation of DNA adducts. These are thus genotoxic.
Acetaldehyde is not only formed from alcohol but is found in wine and other alcoholic drinks. Thus, it can cause local tumors, especially of the upper airway and gut.
Alcohol also irritates the mucosa of the mouth, makes it more permeable to carcinogens like tobacco and so promotes cancer formation, and enhances the chances of inflammation of the liver, causing hepatitis and cirrhosis with subsequent liver cancer.
The metabolism of ethanol depends on the activity of two enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase.
The first converts ethanol to acetaldehyde while the second converts acetaldehyde to acetate, which is less toxic.
Gene variants that cause reduced activity may increase the risk of cancer with wine consumption.
Alcohol also inhibits folate by competitive inhibition, leading to higher rates of colorectal cancer. Finally, it causes the blood levels of sex hormones to rise, causing breast cancer.
Alcohol Causes Cirrhosis
With the consumption of wine, just like any other alcoholic beverage, the alcohol grabs the spotlight from every other macronutrient in the queue.
Since the body cannot store alcohol, it must metabolize it at once. When large amounts of ethanol hit the liver, it damages the liver cells.
Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com
This is because the liver typically oxidizes alcohol through a series of steps to form water and carbon dioxide. When there is too much alcohol, the intermediate molecules inhibit the normal breakdown of fat in the liver. This causes a build-up of fatty compounds in the liver, causing fatty liver or early alcoholic liver disease.
Fatty liver occurs in 90% of people who drink more than 45-60 ounces of alcohol a day. As drinking continues, the liver cells die, are replaced by scar tissue, which extends to destroy the liver architecture.
This transformation of a healthy liver to nonfunctional disorganized fibrous tissue is called alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Unlike fatty liver, which is reversible in 4-6 weeks of complete abstinence, cirrhosis is a permanent change.
What Other Complications Could Wine Cause?
Alcohol abuse causes bacterial overgrowth in the gut, promoting bacterial migration through the intestinal walls. If this sepsis reaches the liver, liver damage occurs.
Alcohol also causes cardiomyopathy, damage to the heart muscle, and induce arrhythmias, or irregularities of the heartbeat. It can increase blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attacks.
Pancreatitis is another complication of drinking. Regular drinking also weakens the immune system and increases the body’s vulnerability to infections.
Heavy drinking can cause loss of concentration, judgment, and memory, boost the chances of a stroke and dementia. It can also cause lower testosterone levels, reduce the sperm count, and reduce the fertility levels.
Do not drink for health
Alcohol use was the seventh leading cause of death globally, and the number 1 cause of death in the age group 15-49 years, according to a Global Burden of Disease study (2016).
For individuals above 50 years, 19% and 27% of deaths attributable to alcohol were caused by cancer.
Importantly, the study concluded by saying, “The level of alcohol consumption that minimized harm across health outcomes was zero standard drinks per week.”
The researchers noted that this put their findings “in conflict with most health guidelines, which espouse health benefits associated with consuming up to two drinks per day.”
However, the WHO international expert committee on the prevention of cardiovascular disease categorically stated in 2007 that “there is no merit in promoting alcohol consumption as a preventive strategy.”
References and Further Reading
- Hydes, T. J., Burton, R., Inskip, H., Bellis, M. A., and Sheron, N. (2019). A Comparison of Gender-Linked Population Cancer Risks Between Alcohol and Tobacco: How Many Cigarettes Are There in A Bottle of Wine? BMC Public Health 19, 316. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6576-9. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-6576-9
- GBD 2016 Alcohol Collaborators (2018). Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet, Volume 392, ISSUE 10152, P1015-1035, September 22, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31310-2/fulltext
- Latino-Martel, P., Arwidson, P., Ancellin, R., et al. (2011). Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk: Revisiting Guidelines For Sensible Drinking. CMAJ November 08, 2011 183 (16) 1861-1865; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.110363. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/183/16/1861
- Clevelandclinic.org. (2020). 6 Surprising Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health — Not Just Your Liver. Available at: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-surprising-ways-alcohol-affects-health-not-just-liver/. Accessed on 24 April 2020.
- Healthdirect.gov. au. (2020). How alcohol affects your health. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/how-alcohol-affects-your-health. Accessed on 24 April 2020
- Lago, L. O., and Welke, J. E. (2019). Carbonyl compounds in wine: factors related to presence and toxic effects. Ciencia Rural vol.49 no.8 Santa Maria. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20190349. http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0103-84782019000800751&script=sci_arttext
Further Reading
- All Alcohol Content
- What causes a hangover?
- Health Risks of Binge Drinking
- Tremors Following Alcohol Dependency
- Health Risks of Alcohol Misuse
FAQs
How does wine damage your body? ›
Larger amounts can cause blackouts, drowsiness, trouble walking, vomiting, and other serious problems. Drinking large amounts of wine long-term can cause many serious health problems including dependence, liver problems, and certain types of cancer.
What happens to your body when you drink a lot of wine? ›Long-term, excessive drinking can also affect the muscles of your heart and increase the risk of stroke. Excessive consumption of wine can also contribute to weight gain, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
Is wine harmful for health? ›Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks. Any links between red wine and fewer heart attacks aren't completely understood.
Is wine beneficial Why explain your answer? ›Research suggests that drinking an occasional glass of red wine is good for you. It provides antioxidants, may promote longevity, and can help protect against heart disease and harmful inflammation, among other benefits. Interestingly, red wine likely has higher levels of antioxidants than white wine.
What are the problems of drinking wine? ›Long-Term Health Risks. Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including: High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
Is wine a bad drink? ›Increased risk of death and disease: Drinking a lot of wine, even only 1–3 days a week, may increase the risk of diabetes in men. High alcohol intake has also been linked with an increased risk of premature death ( 21 , 41 , 47 ).
Is it wrong to drink wine everyday? ›Drinking wine every night can lead to weight gain, decreased immune function, and mental health issues [1]. Additionally, having more than a few drinks daily can affect liver health, resulting in liver damage or liver disease [2].
Which is healthier beer or wine? ›The nutritional value of beer exceeds that of wine . The values of protein, fiber, B vitamins, folate, and niacin found in beer make it more like food. Studies in mice showed that hops may inhibit obesity.
Is drinking wine everyday OK? ›While the consensus on wine is polarizing, researchers do say that drinking it in moderation is not bad for you. In general, moderate wine consumption for healthy adults means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.
How much wine is safe per day? ›To reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.
What does wine do to your brain? ›
A new study suggests that drinking as little as one beer or glass of wine daily is associated with a shrinkage in brain volume equal to two years of aging. Moderate drinking is defined by the CDC as one drink or less daily for women, two drinks or less daily for men.
Is wine a drug? ›Is Alcohol Classified As A Drug? Alcohol is a drug. It is classified as a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant, which means that drinking alcohol slows down brain functioning, neural activity, and further reduces the functioning of various vital functions in the body.
How much wine is too much? ›Experts say a a good maximum amount of wine for women would be a 5 oz glass of wine, and for men two 5 oz glasses of wine, no more than several times a week. Experts strongly advise women against having more than 3 drinks of wine per day, and for men, 4 drinks of wine per day.
Why do people drink wine every day? ›For decades, research has been coming out about the heart-healthy benefits of wine. The antioxidant compounds in wine can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lower risk of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and stroke.
Is it better to drink wine than alcohol? ›Red wine appears to be particularly beneficial because it is very high in healthy antioxidants. In fact, red wine is linked to more health benefits than any other alcoholic beverage ( 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ).
What is worse alcohol or wine? ›Liver Health
But it's possible that wine, and most notably red wine, might not be as harmful as other options. A 2015 study on nearly 56,000 participants found that wine consumption was linked to a lower risk of cirrhosis than consumption of beer or spirits.
- Soda and fresh lime. Proof that simple is still the best.
- Berries in iced water. This summery drink will keep you refreshed and revitalised.
- Kombucha. ...
- Virgin bloody Mary. ...
- Virgin Mojito. ...
- Half soda/half cranberry juice and muddled lime. ...
- Soda and fresh fruit. ...
- Mocktails.
In moderation, drinking wine won't cause belly fat any more than any other food or beverage in your diet. In fact, research shows that it could even help reduce weight gain. Drinking too much wine, however, will have the opposite effect.
Does wine help you sleep? ›"Wine makes you sleepy, so it will reduce time to fall asleep. However, it does not allow one to go into deep sleep and REM sleep,” Kothare says. He adds that the half life of alcohol is about four hours. Once alcohol is out of the bloodstream, REM sleep rebounds and can disrupt restful sleep.
Which alcohol is best for health? ›Red wine. When it comes to a healthier alcohol, red wine is top of the list. Red wine contains antioxidants, which can protect your cells from damage, and polyphenols, which can promote heart health. White wine and rose contain those too, just in smaller quantities.
Is wine good for liver? ›
Alcohol is a common cause of liver disease. However, some contexts link moderate red wine consumption to good liver health. According to a 2018 study , modest alcohol intake, particularly wine, is linked with lower liver fibrosis in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
What is the healthiest alcohol? ›However, if you are going to drink, having red wine in moderation is a healthier choice than other alcoholic drinks. This is due to its high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to better heart and gut health.
Which type of wine is the healthiest? ›Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol. It is made of grapes with thin skin, has low sugar, fewer calories, and low alcohol content. Sagrantino made in Italy contains the highest concentration of antioxidants and is packed with tannins.
Which drink is best for heart? ›- Pomegranate juice. According to experts, pomegranates are uniquely healthy fruits for your heart. ...
- Coffee. Studies have shown that people who drink 3-5 cups of coffee per day have a significantly lower risk of heart disease, stroke and heart failure. ...
- Tea. ...
- Tomato juice. ...
- Green juice. ...
- Smoothies.
"Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body and dehydrates the skin," Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York–based dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said via email. "This can make the skin look more wrinkled and dry.
What country has the best wine? ›Unsurprisingly, France tops the chart as the best wine producing country. The French are the second biggest producer globally, beaten only by Italy, and are responsible for 29.5% of global wine exports each year, according to analysis from WorldsTopExports.com.
Why do people drink wine? ›People are motivated to drink wine because of the enjoyment they derive from it, the taste of the wine, the effect of the alcohol and the social interaction. ...
What happens when you stop drinking? ›Symptoms/outcomes you may see
Onset of withdrawal symptoms which may include hand tremors, retching, excessive sweating, restlessness and anxiety. Withdrawal symptoms continue. Alcohol cravings, reduced energy and feeling low or depressed are common. Sleep is likely to be disturbed.
Researchers found that red wine and cheese, when consumed responsibly, both seemed to be protective against deteriorating memory and other thinking skills. The study also found that eating lamb once a week offered some benefit. (Other red meats did not.)
Can wine damage your nerves? ›Alcohol can be toxic to nerve tissue. People who drink too much may start to feel pain and tingling in their limbs. This is known as alcoholic neuropathy. In people with alcoholic neuropathy, the peripheral nerves have been damaged by too much alcohol use.
Why is wine drunk so good? ›
The faster alcohol gets into your bloodstream, the drunker you'll feel. People tend to sip wine, which may explain why being wine drunk is described as feeling more relaxed and chill than say, beer drunk, which often involves chugging, or tequila drunk, which involves the quick pounding back of potent shots.
Is wine a blood? ›In days past, a traditional fining agent used in winemaking was ox blood. This was added to wine (as a liquid or in dried form) and was a very effective fining agent. However, in 1997 both the EU and the US banned its use when the mad cow disease scare peaked.
Why is wine so alcoholic? ›As grapes ripen, their sugar content rises. During the fermentation process, yeast convers that sugar into alcohol, so the riper the grape, the higher the potential alcohol.
Why do people drink alcohol? ›A number of different motives for drinking alcohol have been examined, including drinking to enhance sociability, to increase power, to escape problems, to get drunk, for enjoyment, or for ritualistic reasons. Despite this diversity, most research has focused on two broad categories of motivation.
What happens if you drink red wine everyday? ›The American Heart Society warns that, although moderate consumption of red wine may have health benefits, excessive consumption can be detrimental to your health. Liver damage, obesity, certain types of cancer, stroke, cardiomyopathy, are just some of the issues that excessive drinking can contribute to.
At what time should I drink wine? ›'For wine tasters, 11am to one pm is the optimum time to actually drink wine because your mouth is drier,' he informed us. 'The saliva that builds up in your mouth throughout the day can dramatically change the taste of wine. It doesn't make it taste worse, just different. '
Can I drink a bottle of wine a night? ›Ultimately, it is not encouraged to consume a bottle of wine within a night. However, it can be beneficial to drink slightly less than one full glass per day. To learn more about drinking limits and intoxication, contact our substance abuse and mental health professionals by calling 866-345-2147 or visiting us here.
Why do people drink wine at night? ›Many people might feel like a nightly glass of wine helps them fall sleep more easily. However, drinking alcohol before bed is associated with more slow-wave sleep patterns, known as delta activity—a deep sleep that allows for memory formation and learning—according to the National Sleep Foundation.
How do I stop drinking? ›- Stay away from people you normally drink with or places where you would drink.
- Plan activities you enjoy that do not involve drinking.
- Keep alcohol out of your home.
- Follow your plan to handle your urges to drink. ...
- Talk with someone you trust when you have the urge to drink.
Drinking with an empty or full stomach
If you drink alcohol with an empty stomach, the alcohol passes directly into your bloodstream. If you've eaten before drinking, the rate of alcohol absorption slows down but doesn't stop.
Which is healthier whiskey or wine? ›
Single malt whiskies have more ellagic acid than red wine. ' As well as having an actively positive effect on the body, whisky is also the healthiest alcohol you can drink. It contains no fat and hardly any sugar or carbohydrates.
What alcohol is easiest on the liver? ›So, now on to the all-important question, which alcohol is easiest on the liver? The quick answer is, none of them. The reason is that the main liver-damaging ingredient in all types of alcohol is ethanol. It doesn't matter which alcohol you chose, be it weak beer or grain alcohol.
Is vodka healthier than wine? ›For those dieting but still drinking alcohol, vodka is typically the go-to due to its low calories and non-existent carbs. It is considered a much lower calorie alternative to beer and wine.
› article ›Drinking Wine Every Day: Am I an Alcoholic?
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Drinking Wine Every Day?
I Drink a Bottle of Wine Every Night Am I An Alcoholic?
Drinking a bottle of wine per day is not considered healthy by most standards. However, when does it morph from a regular, innocent occurrence into alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism? First, it's important to note that building tolerance in order to drink an entire bottle of wine is a definitive red flag.
What happens if you drink a bottle of wine a day? ›Drinking a bottle of wine a day can also eventually cause liver damage. How quickly? That depends on your overall health. According to one article severe alcoholic liver disease is often linked to drinking 20-40 grams of ethanol a day for women, or 40 to 80 grams for men, over 10 to 12 years.
Is it wrong to drink wine everyday? ›Drinking wine every night can lead to weight gain, decreased immune function, and mental health issues [1]. Additionally, having more than a few drinks daily can affect liver health, resulting in liver damage or liver disease [2].
Can 2 glasses of wine a day cause liver damage? ›Having 2 to 3 alcoholic drinks every day or binge drinking can harm your liver. Binge drinking is when you drink more than 4 or 5 drinks in a row. If you already have a liver disease, you should stop drinking alcohol. There is no safe amount of alcohol for people with any type of alcoholic liver disease.
What can I drink instead of wine? ›- Soda and fresh lime. Proof that simple is still the best.
- Berries in iced water. This summery drink will keep you refreshed and revitalised.
- Kombucha. ...
- Virgin bloody Mary. ...
- Virgin Mojito. ...
- Half soda/half cranberry juice and muddled lime. ...
- Soda and fresh fruit. ...
- Mocktails.
In moderation, drinking wine won't cause belly fat any more than any other food or beverage in your diet. In fact, research shows that it could even help reduce weight gain. Drinking too much wine, however, will have the opposite effect.
How can I stop drinking wine everyday? ›
- Create Physical Distance Between Yourself and Alcohol. ...
- Prepare for Each Day. ...
- Practice Deep Breathing. ...
- Build a Plan to Fight Cravings. ...
- When Does Drinking Every Night Become Alcohol Dependence?
If you are going to drink wine, it seems clear that red wine is significantly healthier — or less bad — than white wine. In other words, red wine is the clear winner when it comes to health effects.
Is wine healthier than beer? ›The nutritional value of beer exceeds that of wine . The values of protein, fiber, B vitamins, folate, and niacin found in beer make it more like food. Studies in mice showed that hops may inhibit obesity.
How much wine is too much per day? ›Experts say a a good maximum amount of wine for women would be a 5 oz glass of wine, and for men two 5 oz glasses of wine, no more than several times a week. Experts strongly advise women against having more than 3 drinks of wine per day, and for men, 4 drinks of wine per day.
Does wine help you sleep? ›"Wine makes you sleepy, so it will reduce time to fall asleep. However, it does not allow one to go into deep sleep and REM sleep,” Kothare says. He adds that the half life of alcohol is about four hours. Once alcohol is out of the bloodstream, REM sleep rebounds and can disrupt restful sleep.
How do I stop drinking? ›- Stay away from people you normally drink with or places where you would drink.
- Plan activities you enjoy that do not involve drinking.
- Keep alcohol out of your home.
- Follow your plan to handle your urges to drink. ...
- Talk with someone you trust when you have the urge to drink.
According to a new study published in Oxford's Alcohol and Alcoholism journal, scientists discovered that hoppy beer is significantly less harmful to the liver than liquor and even beer without hops.
Is vodka better than wine? ›For those dieting but still drinking alcohol, vodka is typically the go-to due to its low calories and non-existent carbs. It is considered a much lower calorie alternative to beer and wine.
What does wine do to your brain? ›A new study suggests that drinking as little as one beer or glass of wine daily is associated with a shrinkage in brain volume equal to two years of aging. Moderate drinking is defined by the CDC as one drink or less daily for women, two drinks or less daily for men.
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