In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticlePotential BenefitsNegativesShort-Term EffectsLong-Term Health RisksRecommendationsFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Potential Benefits
Negatives
Short-Term Effects
Long-Term Health Risks
Recommendations
FAQs
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Photo:Eating Well/Getty Images
Eating Well/Getty Images
From clinking glasses for a toast to unwinding with friends after a long day, alcohol has played a central role in shaping traditions and celebrations for centuries. While it can foster connection and enhance social experiences, beneath the celebratory surface lie potential beneficial and harmful effects. Depending on how much and how often you drink, these effects can impact your health and quality of life.
Understanding the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol consumption can help you make an informed choice about whether to raise a glass or take a pass on that next round.
If you’re wondering what happens to your body when you drink alcohol regularly, here’s what you need to know.
Potential Health Benefits of Alcohol
“Some studies suggest that moderate alcohol intake, particularly from red wine, may have cardiovascular benefits, such as increasing ‘good’HDL cholesterollevels and offering mild blood-thinning effects that reduce blood clot risks,” saysNichole Andrews, RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Nutrition with Nichole, LLC.
However, more recent research warns against using alcohol as a strategy for improving heart health, says Andrews. The reason? The risks may outweigh any potential benefits. “Individuals vary in their cardiovascular responses to alcohol, and even low levels of drinking can increase the risk of hypertension and heart disease for some people,” she adds.Therefore, you should always speak to your health care provider before consuming alcohol for heart health.
Risks and Negative Effects of Alcohol
Although red wine is often celebrated for its heart-protective properties, drinking alcohol isn’t risk-free. Excessive alcohol intake, in particular, can adversely impact various aspects of your well-being, from your immediate safety to your long-term health.
Excessive alcohol use can be categorized in four ways, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
There are multiple short-term risks of excessive alcohol consumption. These may include impaired physical and mental functioning, such as reduced coordination, slower reaction times and poor judgment—all of which significantly raise the risk of accidents and injuries, saysJulia Diaz, RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Thyroid Cancer Coach, LLC.
The initial buzz and immediate effects of alcohol may be familiar. Here’s how the long-term consequences of excessive drinking can gradually take a toll on your health.
1. Your Liver May Be Damaged
When you overindulge in alcohol, your liver, which is responsible for breaking down toxins like alcohol, can become overworked, explains Andrews. This may lead to fat buildup, inflammation and, eventually, scarring of liver tissue. “Over time, this repeated damage can result in cirrhosis, where the liver becomes so scarred that it loses functionality,” she explains.This may eventually raise the risk of liver cancer.
2. Your Risk of Cancer May Increase
The link between alcohol consumption and cancer extends beyond the liver. Research indicates that excessive drinking may also elevate the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, colon, rectum and breast.,How does this happen? “When alcohol is metabolized, it produces acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that damages DNA and impairs the body’s ability to repair this damage,” says Andrews. “This DNA damage can set the stage for cancerous growth.”
3. Your Mental Well-Being May Suffer
Managing alcohol intake is crucial not only for physical health but also for preserving your mental well-being. Alcohol has been shown to disrupt neurotransmitters, which can elevate the risk of anxiety, depression, impulsivity and psychosis over time, says Diaz.Chronic alcohol consumption can also lead to a deficiency in vitamin B1 (thiamine), potentially resulting in serious neurological disorders like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, she adds.“Long-term heavy drinking may contribute to cognitive decline and increase the risk of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases, [such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease],” adds Andrews.
How Does Alcohol Affect Your Brain Health?
Alcohol Consumption Recommendations and Limits
To minimize the potential health risks of alcohol, the National Institutes of Health recommends either abstaining from alcohol entirely or drinking in moderation.
Moderate alcohol consumption is typically defined as no more than one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. To put this into perspective, a standard drink is:
However, certain people, such as those who are pregnant, take medications that interact with alcohol, or have a history of addiction, are advised to abstain from alcohol consumption.
How Much Alcohol Should You Be Drinking?
The Bottom Line
Alcohol has long held a prominent place in many societies and cultures. While moderate alcohol consumption may offer some small cardiovascular benefits, the risks of consumption may outweigh these potential benefits. Additionally, drinking excessively has been shown to increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Longer-term, it may impair liver function, increase the risk of certain cancers and adversely affect cognitive and mental health.
If wine is your drink of choice, many of the heart-healthy compounds found in wine can also be found in red grape juice, nonalcoholic wine and green tea. So, whether you choose to indulge in the occasional alcoholic drink or opt for a sober celebration, you can still clink glasses!
Frequently Asked QuestionsModerate alcohol consumption has been associated with higher levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol. However, the risks of developing high blood pressure and heart disease may outweigh this benefit.Moderate red wine consumption may support some aspects of heart health. However, excessive alcohol consumption is linked to headaches, nausea, poor coordination and an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Long-term effects include liver damage, increased cancer risk and poorer cognitive and mental health.The NIH recommends that women consume no more than one drink of alcohol daily and men limit their intake to two drinks per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with higher levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol. However, the risks of developing high blood pressure and heart disease may outweigh this benefit.
Moderate red wine consumption may support some aspects of heart health. However, excessive alcohol consumption is linked to headaches, nausea, poor coordination and an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Long-term effects include liver damage, increased cancer risk and poorer cognitive and mental health.
The NIH recommends that women consume no more than one drink of alcohol daily and men limit their intake to two drinks per day.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Castaldo L, Narváez A, Izzo L, et al.Red wine consumption and cardiovascular health.Molecules. 2019;24(19):3626. doi:10.3390/molecules24193626Biddinger KJ, Emdin CA, Haas ME, et al.Association of habitual alcohol intake with risk of cardiovascular disease.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e223849. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3849Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol Use and Your Health.Roerecke M, Vafaei A, Hasan OSM, et al.Alcohol consumption and risk of liver cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(10):1574-1586. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000340American Cancer Society.Liver Cancer Risk Factors.Rumgay H, Murphy N, Ferrari P, Soerjomataram I.Alcohol and cancer: Epidemiology and biological mechanisms.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3173. doi:10.3390/nu13093173Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and Cancer.World Health Organization.No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our healthNehring SM, Chen RJ, Freeman AM.Alcohol Use Disorder. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024Akhouri S, Kuhn J, Newton EJ.Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Kamal H, Tan GC, Ibrahim SF, et al.Alcohol use disorder, neurodegeneration, alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease: interplay between oxidative stress, neuroimmune response and excitotoxicity.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:282. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.00282National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking Levels and Patterns Defined.National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.What Is A Standard Drink?
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Castaldo L, Narváez A, Izzo L, et al.Red wine consumption and cardiovascular health.Molecules. 2019;24(19):3626. doi:10.3390/molecules24193626Biddinger KJ, Emdin CA, Haas ME, et al.Association of habitual alcohol intake with risk of cardiovascular disease.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e223849. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3849Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol Use and Your Health.Roerecke M, Vafaei A, Hasan OSM, et al.Alcohol consumption and risk of liver cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(10):1574-1586. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000340American Cancer Society.Liver Cancer Risk Factors.Rumgay H, Murphy N, Ferrari P, Soerjomataram I.Alcohol and cancer: Epidemiology and biological mechanisms.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3173. doi:10.3390/nu13093173Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and Cancer.World Health Organization.No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our healthNehring SM, Chen RJ, Freeman AM.Alcohol Use Disorder. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024Akhouri S, Kuhn J, Newton EJ.Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Kamal H, Tan GC, Ibrahim SF, et al.Alcohol use disorder, neurodegeneration, alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease: interplay between oxidative stress, neuroimmune response and excitotoxicity.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:282. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.00282National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking Levels and Patterns Defined.National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.What Is A Standard Drink?
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Castaldo L, Narváez A, Izzo L, et al.Red wine consumption and cardiovascular health.Molecules. 2019;24(19):3626. doi:10.3390/molecules24193626Biddinger KJ, Emdin CA, Haas ME, et al.Association of habitual alcohol intake with risk of cardiovascular disease.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e223849. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3849Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol Use and Your Health.Roerecke M, Vafaei A, Hasan OSM, et al.Alcohol consumption and risk of liver cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(10):1574-1586. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000340American Cancer Society.Liver Cancer Risk Factors.Rumgay H, Murphy N, Ferrari P, Soerjomataram I.Alcohol and cancer: Epidemiology and biological mechanisms.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3173. doi:10.3390/nu13093173Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and Cancer.World Health Organization.No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our healthNehring SM, Chen RJ, Freeman AM.Alcohol Use Disorder. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024Akhouri S, Kuhn J, Newton EJ.Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Kamal H, Tan GC, Ibrahim SF, et al.Alcohol use disorder, neurodegeneration, alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease: interplay between oxidative stress, neuroimmune response and excitotoxicity.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:282. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.00282National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking Levels and Patterns Defined.National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.What Is A Standard Drink?
Castaldo L, Narváez A, Izzo L, et al.Red wine consumption and cardiovascular health.Molecules. 2019;24(19):3626. doi:10.3390/molecules24193626
Biddinger KJ, Emdin CA, Haas ME, et al.Association of habitual alcohol intake with risk of cardiovascular disease.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e223849. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3849
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol Use and Your Health.
Roerecke M, Vafaei A, Hasan OSM, et al.Alcohol consumption and risk of liver cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(10):1574-1586. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000340
American Cancer Society.Liver Cancer Risk Factors.
Rumgay H, Murphy N, Ferrari P, Soerjomataram I.Alcohol and cancer: Epidemiology and biological mechanisms.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3173. doi:10.3390/nu13093173
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and Cancer.
World Health Organization.No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
Nehring SM, Chen RJ, Freeman AM.Alcohol Use Disorder. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024
Akhouri S, Kuhn J, Newton EJ.Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. In: StatPearls.StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Kamal H, Tan GC, Ibrahim SF, et al.Alcohol use disorder, neurodegeneration, alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease: interplay between oxidative stress, neuroimmune response and excitotoxicity.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:282. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.00282
National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Drinking Levels and Patterns Defined.
National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.What Is A Standard Drink?
