Even moderate alcohol consumption is harmful to health: scientists have made a final verdict

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There is an opinion that there is nothing wrong with a glass of wine. However, this is a deadly myth.

The more alcoholic beverages you drink, the higher your risk of hypertension and stroke. This statement has never been disputed. But it was still believed that there was a certain “safe” dose of alcohol. Which, according to some reports, can even prevent ischemic stroke.

However, these data have been refuted. The results of a recently completed large study clearly prove: there is no safe dose of alcohol.

How much can you drink without harming your health

The answer to this question is categorical: not at all. Scientists analyzed data on the health of about 500 thousand people – adult Chinese of both sexes. And they found a clear connection between the use of alcoholic beverages and vascular disorders.

People who drink moderately have a 10-15% increased risk of stroke compared to those who do not drink alcohol.

Moderate means no more than one drink (approximately 10-20 ml of pure alcohol) per day. Translated into popular drinks, this means approximately 350 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine or 40-50 ml of cognac, whiskey, vodka or other spirits.

If you drink more, your personal risk of stroke increases to 35%.

Who is at risk from alcohol

According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 billion people drink alcohol. At the same time, the average daily dose of alcohol per person is 33 ml – about twice the “moderate” value. Among these people there are both Europeans and Americans or Chinese.

The study focused on the Chinese, but only for one reason. Among the representatives of the Asian race, it is possible to objectively select a control group – formed from people who do not drink alcohol at all. Some Chinese have a genetic intolerance to alcohol. Among other races, there are no people with a similar feature.

It is the comparison of the majority who sometimes drink with the control group, who never drink, that allowed scientists to clearly establish the harm of any, even the smallest doses of alcohol.

You can, of course, say: “Where are the Chinese – and where are we…”. But this would be a mistake. The research team, which includes scientists from Oxford and Peking Universities, as well as the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, confidently declares that the conclusions provided are the same for all people in the world.