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Experts Now Saying There Is No Such Thing As ‘drinking For Health’

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We’ve all heard that alcohol can be good for your health

That can be a bitter pill to swallow for recovering alcoholics, and also a major source of stress: “Am I missing out on all those health benefits and shortening my life just because I can’t limit my drinking?” It can add to the tremendous amount of guilt that many addicts already feel about their struggle to control their alcohol consumption.

I knew that wasn’t the same for everybody

As someone who has struggled with addiction and seen the slippery slope for loved ones and friends around me, I can confidently say that alcohol is not for everyone, so I was pleased to see a recent article that shows that it might not have all the benefits that it has been boasted to have in the past.

In some ways I believe I am lucky because my recovery offers me a different, clear outlook – I know I cannot drink so I don’t delude myself with the fantasies that I can or will be able to in the future. There is no “one glass of wine” endorsed by a doctor for me since I know there is never just one. In any case, there might be grounds for a healthy period of abstinence from alcohol for any healthy adult – if anything, just to see if you can.

But now it seems it might not be true at all

While in some past studies moderate drinking has been linked to lower instances of diabetes, and in some cases even help with reducing the risk of heart disease later in life, a recent study in the journal “Addiction” says differently. One psychiatrist out of Oslo says that while some of the statistics show benefits for a number of different health disorders including heart disease, however, he reminds people that these associations are not necessarily direct links to these benefits.

This should come as a relief to many, especially those of us that do not drink! In addition, there are still some risks that can come even as a result of light drinking that includes increased risks in certain types of cancers and for some the ever-looming possibility of too many drinks from just having one should keep us, alcoholics, away from the drink even longer.

Ultimately, no matter what health benefits scientists suspect moderate alcohol consumption might have, none of them outweigh the damage that abusing it does to the body, so if you know alcohol is a trigger for you, just stay away.