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The Sobering Facts About Christmas Drinking
Mary Ling • Nov 03, 2018
'Tis the season to be jolly, but too much drinking in the silly season - or even wine o'clock during our working week - is a contributing factor for breast cancer that many women may be underestimating.
The evidence is solid, with a recent Cancer Council Australia report stating that 1 in 5 of the nation's breast cancer cases is now linked to alcohol consumption. "A lot of effort goes into raising breast cancer awareness, but how many Australian women are aware that reducing alcohol consumption is one of the best ways to reduce their breast cancer risk?" says former Cancer Council Australia CEO Professor Ian Ovler.
Alcohol increases the levels of oestrogen in the body, which is linked to the development of breast cancer.
Alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer through two main ways.
Alcohol is broken down by the body into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA in cells and stop cells from repairing that damage, leading to cancerous cells developing.
Alcohol increases the levels of oestrogen in the body, which is linked to the development of breast cancer.
Aside from breast cancer, alcohol is also linked to cancers of the mouth, pharynx (upper throat), larynx (voice box), oesophagus, bowel and liver. There is no level of drinking, or types of alcohol, that is considered safe for avoiding cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol, the
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends no more than 2 standard drinks a day.
10 Holiday Hacks to Reduce Christmas Drinking
- Set a goal. Plan to stop drinking at a certain point in the night or aim to only have alcohol on the weekend.
- Eat first. Have a healthy meal with carbohydrate content before going out, as food slows down the absorption of alcohol.
- Try alternatives such as mocktails or non-alcoholic beer, wine or champagne. Visit www.alcofree.com.au for a range of non-alcoholic drinks.
- Lighten up alcohol content by adding orange juice to champagne (Mimosa) or lemonade to beer (Shandy). Your waistline will thank you too.
- Alternate with water. Keep hydrated with water to stop yourself from getting too intoxicated, and reduce hangover symptoms.
- Sip soda from a wine glass, so you don't feel like you are missing out.
- Stop the top-ups. Drink your glass empty first.
- Know your "strength". There are 8 standard drinks in a bottle of red wine, 1.5 standard drinks in a restaurant pour of red wine and 1 standard drink in a stubby (mid-strength beer).
- Downsize glasses at home. Opt for a small (125 ml) wine glass rather than a large (250 ml) glass.
- Learn to de-stress - no wine required. Alcohol doesn't have to be the glue that "binds" social relationshps. Opt for group sports, mindfulness, yoga, a walk in the park, or a nightly "ritual" with candles and herbal tea instead of alcohol.
Remember, at the end of the day, it's always important to take more out of alcohol than alcohol takes out of you.
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