As of: February 12, 2024, 8:08 a.m
By: Jasmina Deshmeh
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Alcohol damages the liver, as most people are aware of.
What many people don't know is that it also increases the risk of developing cancer.
Anyone who drinks alcohol regularly can not only become addicted, but also increase their risk of cancer.
But why is this the case, where is the worrying limit and can you reduce your risk of developing cancer by abstaining from alcohol?
Why alcohol promotes the development of cancer
Drinking alcohol is part of everyday life for many people.
The luxury food can promote the development of cancer (symbolic image).
© HEX/Imago
Alcohol consumption and the development of cancer are linked, that much is clear.
This has been proven
, according to the
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).
Among other things, through a large study from 2018 in which 600,000 people from 19 countries were examined.
It turned out that the more alcohol a person drinks, the higher their risk of developing cancer.
Participants who drank 200 grams of alcohol per week had, on average, a one to two year shorter life expectancy.
With over 350 grams of alcohol a week it was even five years.
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According to the DKFZ,
four percent of all new cancer cases in Germany can
be attributed to alcohol consumption, making the neurotoxin one of the most important lifestyle-related risk factors for cancer.
The risk is particularly high if you also smoke.
Because alcohol and tobacco increase their carcinogenic effects, according to the
DKFZ experts
.
The background is that alcohol makes the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat particularly permeable to harmful substances in tobacco.
According to the German Cancer Society
, types of cancer that can arise from alcohol consumption are
:
Oral cancer (“mouth cancer”)
esophageal cancer
Liver cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Throat cancer
Colon cancer
Breast cancer
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The mechanism of exactly how alcohol promotes the development of cancer has not been conclusively researched.
However, if you look at it soberly, alcohol is not a “stimulant”, but rather a cell toxin that the body wants to get rid of as quickly as possible.
When this poison breaks down, acetaldehyde is created, which is very reactive and also combines with DNA molecules, among other things.
This can lead to mutations and ultimately cancer.
In addition, alcohol can increase estrogen levels, which could explain the increased risk of breast cancer in women, and promotes reflux disease, which in turn increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
Can I reduce my risk of cancer if I stop drinking alcohol?
Yes!
If you avoid alcohol completely, you can reduce your risk of cancer after several years, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO)
.
Depending on how high consumption used to be, it can be completely eliminated, but it may not be possible anymore.
The same applies to smoking.
If you don't want to give up alcohol completely, you should at least pay attention to moderation: the
German Center for Addiction Issues (DHS)
recommends that healthy men not drink more than 20 grams of alcohol per day.
That's about how much there is in half a liter of beer or 250 milliliters of wine.
The values are lower in women because they break down alcohol more slowly and it has a faster and stronger effect on them.
The guideline here is a maximum of ten grams of pure alcohol per day, which corresponds to around a quarter liter of beer or 125 milliliters of wine.
Another advantage of abstinence: Those who abstain from alcohol not only reduce their risk of cancer but also reduce the likelihood of other diseases.
These include:
dementia
Liver diseases such as fatty liver and cirrhosis
chronic inflammation
stroke
Kidney damage
mental illnesses and depression
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.