Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Liesl Pretorius
Published on 2024-02-21 05:00:48
In the year 1991, the host of the American news programme 60 Minutes, went to France to investigate the French paradox: despite their high-fat diet, the French were less likely to suffer from heart disease compared to Americans. The investigation revealed that drinking wine in moderation might be the key to the French paradox. This led to a significant increase in wine sales in the US. However, the enthusiasm for moderate alcohol consumption has since waned.
In 2023, a podcast episode featuring Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, who described alcohol as “poison” even in moderation, became widely popular in South Africa. Additionally, research published by the World Health Organization in the Lancet Public Health stated that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption for health or cancer prevention. These findings have led many organizations to amend their guidelines on alcohol consumption.
For example, the American Cancer Society, which previously recommended limiting alcohol consumption to one drink a day for women and two for men, now advises against alcohol consumption altogether to prevent cancer. Similarly, the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa also updated its recommendations to state that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
The notion that moderate alcohol consumption can be beneficial for heart health has been challenged by recent research. While the belief that moderate drinking could increase “good” cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attacks was popular in the 1990s, current evidence suggests that the protective effects of alcohol consumption have been overemphasized. Recent studies have found no evidence that regular, moderate alcohol consumption is heart-healthy.
On the other hand, the link between alcohol consumption and cancer is well-established. Research has shown that alcohol use can increase the risk of developing various types of cancers, including breast cancer. Ethanol, the type of alcohol found in drinks, breaks down to a chemical called acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Studies have estimated that eliminating alcohol use could prevent thousands of new cancer cases each year.
The Global Burden of Diseases Study, an analysis of global health data, emphasizes the need for flexible alcohol guidelines that consider factors such as age and geographical location. It suggests that younger individuals should avoid alcohol due to the risk of injury, while older individuals face a more complex relationship between alcohol consumption and disease. The prevalence of certain diseases in a particular region can affect the safe level of alcohol use for its population.
South Africa, as a country, does not have national drinking guidelines due to the recommendation to avoid alcohol intake. However, countries like Canada have updated their drinking guidelines to recommend much lower alcohol use than in previous years. The new guidelines emphasize the increased risk of cancer with even moderate alcohol consumption, reflecting a growing awareness of the health risks associated with drinking.
Overall, the changing attitudes towards alcohol consumption highlight the need for accurate and up-to-date information on the health risks associated with alcohol use. Evidence-based guidelines that consider individual and regional differences can help promote healthier choices and reduce the burden of alcohol-related diseases.
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