You’ve likely heard that red wine could be beneficial for heart health or that vodka might be a preferable choice over darker liquors like bourbon. Interestingly, a recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Heart Disease has suggested that champagne could lower the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
However, organizations like the World Health Organization argue that no form of alcohol is truly healthy for the body. It’s worth noting that factors such as consumption levels and sugar content may help mitigate some harm for drinkers.
“There was a time when French people appeared to experience lower rates of heart disease than we do,” said Dr. John Flores, a board-certified internal medicine expert from Dallas, Texas. He added, “But now we’ve come to realize they don’t actually drink that much, and any amount of alcohol can be damaging.”
Ethanol, the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, functions as a central nervous system depressant. According to the National Institutes of Health, it can lead to feelings of reduced happiness, increased anxiety, and impaired cognitive and motor function.
“In the short term, alcohol reaches your brain, slows down your thinking, and alters your mood by affecting neurotransmitters,” Flores explained. “Over the long term, any alcohol consumption raises the risk of various cancers and those with family histories of such diseases are even more at risk.”
Flores pointed out that risks associated with alcohol consumption include colorectal cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, oral cancer, pharyngeal cancer, and heart damage related to drinking. He remarked, “There’s really no reason to think you’re better than others—perhaps aside from calories and the pace at which you drink.”
Kelly Springer, a registered dietitian from Skaneateles, New York, weighed in on the topic, offering some guidance on alcoholic beverages. She noted that moderately dry red wine stands out as her top recommendation, primarily because it tends to have less sugar than other wines. It also contains beneficial polyphenolic antioxidants like resveratrol.
Springer emphasizes that understanding serving sizes is crucial for achieving any positive health effects. “Moderation looks like a 5 oz glass for women,” she clarified. The second-best choice, according to her, would be liquors like vodka, gin, and tequila, mainly due to their low-calorie content—around 95 to 100 calories per 1.5 oz shot.
But Springer cautioned against pairing clear liquors with sugary mixers, saying that this could negate the “healthier” aspects of alcohol. “Think of margaritas or frozen drinks—those bright, colorful options are some of the worst for your health,” she warned. “They pack in a lot of extra calories that people often overlook.”
She also pointed out the risks posed by sugar, stating, “Sugar can contribute to chronic diseases by causing inflammation. When your body has excess sugar, it’s stored as fat, which can gradually lead to inflammation markers.” With beer, choices vary widely when it comes to calories, and using apps like CalorieKing or MyFitnessPal to track content is a good strategy.
Springer concluded with a reminder that not all light beers are created equal. “Be a smart consumer. Know what you’re drinking,” she advised. With numerous non-alcoholic options available nowadays, many still contain high sugar levels, so it’s essential to choose wisely.
