Support with drinking
Can a balanced lifestyle include drinking alcohol?
Drinking can affect many aspects of your life, and the lives of others, like your family and work colleagues. Here are the main factors to consider.
-
Five key factors are involved in maintaining a balanced lifestyle
Several major medical studies have identified five key factors that are important for maintaining a balanced lifestyle. These are: not smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight and not drinking excessively (1, 2).
Of course, there are other factors that can contribute, like getting enough sleep and avoiding the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of certain prescription drugs. For most people, sticking to the five key lifestyle factors, along with avoiding drug abuse and other risky behavior, can reduce the odds of developing chronic (or noncommunicable) diseases.
-
Avoiding heavy drinking is one of the pillars of a balanced lifestyle
For some, drinking alcohol can be part of a balanced lifestyle and a way of celebrating and marking social occasions (3). Heavy drinking, whether over a long period or as binging, increases the risk of various illnesses (4). Research studies have shown that moderate drinking, on the other hand, may improve heart health (5, 6) and help prevent diabetes (7, 8) in some people (9, 10).
But everyone is different – therefore, whether moderate drinking can be part of your balanced lifestyle depends on who you are. People who are alcohol dependent or have a family history of Alcohol Use Disorder may be advised not to drink at all. Even light drinking may increase the risk of breast cancer in women (9, 10). The best way to determine if moderate drinking is compatible with a balanced lifestyle for you is to discuss it with a health professional.
-
A balanced lifestyle also includes being well mentally and emotionally
Stress and anxiety can be as damaging to the body as physical illnesses. Some people respond to stress and deal with emotional issues by increasing their drinking (11). This can lead to problems of alcohol abuse and have a lasting effect on health. Avoiding behaviors that can upset the balance between mind and body are critical for staying healthy.
References
- Yu, E., et al., Diet, Lifestyle, Biomarkers, Genetic Factors, and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the Nurses' Health Studies. Am J Public Health, 2016. 106(9): p. 1616-23.
- Mostofsky, E., et al., Key Findings on Alcohol Consumption and a Variety of Health Outcomes From the Nurses' Health Study. Am J Public Health, 2016. 106(9): p. 1586-91.
- Sayette, M.A., The effects of alcohol on emotion in social drinkers. Behav Res Ther, 2017. 88: p. 76-89.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol's Effects on the Body. 2020; Available from:
- Ronksley, P.E., et al., Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj, 2011. 342: p. d671.
- Kannel, W.B. and R.C. Ellison, Alcohol and coronary heart disease: the evidence for a protective effect. Clin Chim Acta, 1996. 246(1-2): p. 59-76.
- Li, X.H., et al., Association between alcohol consumption and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr, 2016. 103(3): p. 818-29.
- Neuenschwander, M., et al., Role of diet in type 2 diabetes incidence: umbrella review of meta-analyses of prospective observational studies. Bmj, 2019. 366: p. l2368.
- Bagnardi, V., et al., Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis. Br J Cancer, 2015. 112(3): p. 580-93.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Alcohol Consumption and Ethyl Carbamate, in IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. 2010, IARC: Lyon.
- Keyes, K.M., et al., Stress and alcohol: epidemiologic evidence. Alcohol Res, 2012. 34(4): p. 391-400.
