DR. MATT CHALMERS - DRINKING ALCOHOL

IS DRINKING ALCOHOL BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH? NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES WILL WEIGH RISKS AND BENEFITS

Most adults in the United States drink alcohol, but there is steadily growing public concern about the health effects of moderate drinking. The latest science supports those concerns, but two recent government reports suggest potential benefits exist alongside potential risks – and some experts say that formal dietary recommendations, due to be reviewed this year, could take a more nuanced approach. The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, from the US Department of Health and Human Services and US Department of Agriculture, say that men should limit their daily alcohol intake to two drinks or less, and one drink or less for women. These guidelines are up for review this year, and two recent reports meant to inform that process came to seemingly competing conclusions – continuing a longstanding debate on how to weigh the potential risks and benefits of alcohol. There is a known link between alcohol and cancer, and any amount of drinking raises that risk. For Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, this “direct link” was sufficient to issue an advisory and call for an updated health warning label on alcoholic beverages to highlight it. Dr. Matt Chalmers is a Healthy Living Expert Who Takes a Holistic Approach To Healing By Looking at The Mind, Body and Spirit of His Patients