Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, placing it in the same category as tobacco. It increases the risk of seven different types of cancer, including breast, colon and rectal, esophageal, liver, mouth and throat cancers.
Scientific data shows that one glass of alcohol per day increases the risk of cancer by about 9%. Three glasses per week, or one glass every two days, would increase this risk by about 4%. This even includes a glass of red wine.
The common belief that red wine is healthier than other types of alcohol is false. All alcohol is toxic to the body. The antioxidants found in alcohol, such as red wine, can easily be obtained from foods like berries or grapes.
When examining data from large populations — hundreds of thousands of people — and looking for patterns between their habits and the onset of cancer, alcohol consumption is found to be associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Focus on the essentials
Only two food categories are actually linked to cancer: processed meats and alcohol. Everything else—dairy products, soy, meat, gluten—is not clearly linked to an increased risk of cancer.
