In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleNutrition Information of CocktailsWhat Happens When You Drink a Cocktail Every DayFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Nutrition Information of Cocktails
What Happens When You Drink a Cocktail Every Day
FAQs
Cocktails never go out of style. Not only are there cocktail bars popping up across the country, but canned cocktails are also the new rage. Of course, beer and wine reign as America’s favorite boozy beverages, but Americans still love their cocktails. According to theLiquor Laboratory, 27% of individuals who drink alcohol sip spirits.
How Much Alcohol Should You Be Drinking?
Even if you follow the trend of adding veggies to your cocktail, mixed drinks aren’t exactly a superfood. So, if you’re in the habit of enjoying a happy hour or nightcap regularly, read on to dive into the effects drinking your favorite tipple has on your body.
According to theUSDA, one vodka and soda contains:
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Anna Kelly, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Pictured Recipe:Lemonade Mimosas
You Could Put Your Heart at Risk
Though alcohol has had a reputation as a heart-healthy drink, more recent research is showing that it’s actually not so good for your ticker. A 2021 study in theEuropean Heart Journal, which included 107,485 people over the span of 14 years, found that consuming only 12 grams of alcohol per day (about one standard drink) was associated with a 16% increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation. (AFib is an irregular heartbeat that raises your odds of stroke and heart failure, according to theAmerican Heart Association.) “While the risks of harm after one drink are low for most people, the risks aren’t zero for everyone,” saysGeorge F. Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adding that it’s hard to know who might be at risk from drinking low amounts of alcohol.
You Might Have a Crummy Night of Sleep
More than 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough slumber, defined as at least seven hours a night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A nighttime cocktail may induce drowsiness, but it ultimately won’t do your sleep any favors. Why? “In general, alcohol shortens the time it takes people to fall asleep but disrupts sleep architecture and promotes early wakening,” Koob says. “To the drinker, it might feel like alcohol is helping with sleep when, in fact, it reduces the quality of sleep,” he says. Koob points to a 2018 study inJMIR Mental Health, which has shown that one or two servings of alcohol before sleep disrupts your nervous system to decrease your body’s ability to relax during sleep.
You Could Gain Weight
You May Have a Higher Risk of Certain Cancers
When it comes to cancer risk, the news about alcohol of any kind isn’t good. “There is no perfectly safe level of alcohol consumption, which is particularly true for your risk of cancer,” Koob says. According to a 2020 article inJAMA, 87,000 cancer cases every year are associated with alcohol use, including esophageal cancer, breast cancer in females, colorectal cancer and others. Even one or two drinks per day can raise the risk of female breast cancer, the authors point out. That’s why theAmerican Institute for Cancer Researchsuggests abstaining from alcohol for cancer prevention.
The Bottom Line
Cocktails can be enjoyed, as all things, in moderation. Yet, regularly drinking alcohol carries some risk of health issues. You’ll have to weigh your risks based on your health history, but remember that drinking less is clearly better than drinking more. If you decide to cut back or eliminate cocktails, you can always switch to mocktails. You can make your own or purchase canned options.
How to Turn Any Cocktail into a Mocktail
Frequently Asked QuestionsAs with all foods and beverages, cocktails can be enjoyed in moderation. Yet, unlike other types of alcohol, cocktails are usually loaded with added sugars, and “research suggests that there isn’t a perfectly safe level of alcohol consumption,” Koob says. Regular consumption of alcohol can increase your risk for heart problems, cancer, sleep issues and more.Any heavily sweetened drink high in added sugars and cocktails with a high amount of alcohol will be the least nutritious.Yes. According to theWorld Health Organization, no amount of alcohol is safe because it causes at least seven types of cancer, including bowel cancer and female breast cancer. In addition, there are people who should avoid alcohol completely for other reasons, including those who are recovering from an alcohol use disorder or are unable to control the amount they drink, as well as pregnant people, those who may become pregnant and individuals who have certain medical conditions or are taking prescription medications that might interact with alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions
As with all foods and beverages, cocktails can be enjoyed in moderation. Yet, unlike other types of alcohol, cocktails are usually loaded with added sugars, and “research suggests that there isn’t a perfectly safe level of alcohol consumption,” Koob says. Regular consumption of alcohol can increase your risk for heart problems, cancer, sleep issues and more.
Any heavily sweetened drink high in added sugars and cocktails with a high amount of alcohol will be the least nutritious.
Yes. According to theWorld Health Organization, no amount of alcohol is safe because it causes at least seven types of cancer, including bowel cancer and female breast cancer. In addition, there are people who should avoid alcohol completely for other reasons, including those who are recovering from an alcohol use disorder or are unable to control the amount they drink, as well as pregnant people, those who may become pregnant and individuals who have certain medical conditions or are taking prescription medications that might interact with alcohol.
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What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Soda Every Day
What Happens to Your Body When You Eat a Late-Night Snack Every Day
Is the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Healthy?
Can You Eat Raw Potatoes? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to Say
5 Signs You’re Drinking Too Much Seltzer Water, According to a Dietitian
6 Home Remedies for Colds That May Actually Work
8 Scary Things That Could Happen to Your Body When You Skip Meals
Here’s What Happened When I Drank More Water for 30 Days
Can You Die from Taking Too Many Multivitamins? Here’s What Health Experts SayI’m a Dietitian & This Is What I Wish People Knew About Eating DisordersWhat Happens to Your Body When You Drink Alcohol RegularlyHow Much Alcohol Should You Be Drinking?Healthy Ways to Gain WeightDoes Cheese Cause Constipation or Diarrhea? Here’s What Dietitians SayI’m Anemic & These Are the 5 Things I Do to Stabilize My EnergyWhat Exactly Is Damp January and Should You Try It? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to Say
Can You Die from Taking Too Many Multivitamins? Here’s What Health Experts Say
I’m a Dietitian & This Is What I Wish People Knew About Eating Disorders
What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Alcohol Regularly
Healthy Ways to Gain Weight
Does Cheese Cause Constipation or Diarrhea? Here’s What Dietitians Say
I’m Anemic & These Are the 5 Things I Do to Stabilize My Energy
What Exactly Is Damp January and Should You Try It? Here’s What a Dietitian Has to Say
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