Food and Nutrition: What Everyone Needs to Know (Second Edition) is Now on Pre-Sale

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Alcohol and health: risks, myths, and benefits

Chapter 13. Alcohol and Drinking: Heart-Healthy or Cancer Risk Factor?

This chapter explores alcohol’s effects on human health, chronic disease, mental health, and well-being. It explains how drinking habits vary by culture, religion, socioeconomic status, and social norms, noting the rise of binge and solo drinking in the US. The chapter describes alcohol’s immediate and long-term effects on the brain and body. It highlights alcohol’s pleasurable effects while describing its potential for addiction, depression, cardiovascular disease, and many cancers, particularly breast cancer and colorectal cancer. It evaluates the French Paradox, which shows lower heart disease in France and Japan compared to the US thought to be attributable to red wine and its phytochemical resveratrol, also found in Japanese tea. Finally, it compares the nutritional differences between wine, beer, cocktails, and spirits while underscoring that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free due to its toxic by-product acetaldehyde, despite the clear social benefits light and moderate drinking provides in some cultures.

alcohol and breast cancer, beer,  binge drinking, French paradox, red wine, resveratrol (Ch 13)

  • Alcohol and health
  • Alcohol and cancer
  • Drinking trends
  • Cultural influences
  • French paradox and red wine

core topics this chapter addresses

Guiding Questions

  • Who drinks alcohol, and how much? 
  • How does alcohol affect the brain and body? 
  • How do wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails differ in calorie and nutrient content? 
  • What are the health risks of alcohol consumption? 
  • Does alcohol cause cancer? 
  • Is moderate drinking good for your cardiovascular system?
  • Does red wine play a special role in heart health—or is it just the culture and social connection? 

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Bring nuance to alcohol’s health effects; spark classroom debate or update public health outreach materials with this evidence-based view while taking a deeper look at your own drinking habits

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Copyright © 2019-2025  P.K. Newby, LLC & Food Matters Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

  • Food and Nutrition
  • Table of Contents
  • Book Abstract
  • Chapter 25 Future of Food
  • Chapter 24 Healthy Diet
  • Chapter 23 Diet Longevity
  • Chapter 22 SDGs 4AR AI
  • Chapter 20 Milk, Dairy
  • Chapter 21 Seafood Facts
  • Chapter 19 Meat Eggs Myth
  • Chapter 17 Nuts Beans Soy
  • Chapter 16 Grains, Gluten
  • Chapter 15 Fruit and Veg
  • Chapter 14 Coffee Tea
  • Chapter 13 Alcohol Facts
  • Chapter 12 Protein Myths
  • Chapter 11 Fat Facts
  • Chapter 10 Carbs Sugar
  • Chapter 9 Nutrients
  • Chapter 8 Water Plastics
  • Chapter 7 Diet Drivers
  • Chapter 6 Diet Fads Myths
  • Chapter 5 Food Processing
  • Chapter 4 Big Food Costs
  • Chapter 3 Big Food Costs
  • Chapter 2 Diet Disease
  • Chapter 1 Food Nutrition

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