Friday Favorites: Can Alcohol Cause Cancer?

If even light drinking can cause cancer, why don’t doctors warn their patients about it?
Cancer is only our second highest killer. The top killer is heart disease, so what about the French paradox? Doesn’t moderate drinking protect against cardiovascular disease? In that case, isn’t some alcohol beneficial overall? These are exactly the kinds of questions I set out to address in this four-part series, which also includes:
• The Best Source of Resveratrol (nutritionfacts....)
• Is It Better to Drink a Little Alcohol Than None at All? (nutritionfacts....)
• Do Any Benefits of Alcohol Outweigh the Risks? (nutritionfacts....)
I previously explored breast cancer specifically in my videos Breast Cancer and Alcohol: How Much Is Safe? (nutritionfacts...) and Breast Cancer Risk: Red Wine vs. White Wine (nutritionfacts....
Additional videos discussing the connections between alcohol and cancer include Preventing Skin Cancer from the Inside Out (nutritionfacts...) and The Best Advice on Diet and Cancer (nutritionfacts....
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Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at nutritionfacts.... and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it.
Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at nutritionfacts.... You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgements for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics.
Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM
Captions for this video are available in several languages; you can find yours in the video settings. View important information about our translated resources: nutritionfacts...
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[@lucisue53]

No pun intended, this is sobering information for which I am grateful. Two months ago I eliminated any alcohol from my diet as an experiment. We used to have a small glass of wine with dinner several nights a week. I was curious if there would be noticeable effects. My sleep is markedly improved - I fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake more rested. I rarely have a headache. I've lost a couple of pounds, and generally feel pretty good. I'm 68 years old - every good day is a gift! I do not consider myself a nondrinker - there could be a celebratory glass of bubbly for a special occasion - but eliminating alcohol has definitely improved how I feel. Thanks for the informative video.

[@pixieskitty]

Intend your puns, coward! :v

[@lucisue53]

@@pixieskitty hysterical!

[@6681096]

Absolutely negatively affects sleep. For light to moderate drinkers the evidence for overall increase in mortality is weak for men.

[@maiqueashworth]

In my experience, alcohol is always addictive. I never became anywhere near close to being alcoholic, but I found it incredibly easy to get a long term habit. I can see it in friends and family too. It's amazing how people can say they have to have a glass of wine after work without realising they they have mild addiction. And in a similar way to junk food, its use permeates society.

[@brodyalden]

Alchohol, for many people, causes a morphine-like spike in dopamine levels in the brain; which is a great feeling while blood-alchohol levels rise; but what goes up must come down: the hangover. The problem, in terms of addiction, is when a drinker learns they can (temporarily) avoid the hangover by having another drink. This is the set-up for the rollercoaster which cannot be disembarked without a lot of effort. The affect I described is genetically determined; so if you’re interested for yourself, measure your heart rate, take a medium-sized drink, then measure again. If your heart-rate went up: WATCH OUT.

[@rezlogan4787]

I used to drink a lot as a younger man, but it disrupted my sleep so much I cut it out. These days, I find grapefruit tastes a lot like a gin and tonic, but with NONE of the health drawbacks. And I can eat it at work every day!

[@KJSvitko]

Doctor visits should provide more health education for patients. It is just crazy that Doctors do not get nutrition training in Medical schools. Every doctor visit should include some nutrition discussion. The majority of the population is over weight or obese leading to high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Schools and hospital cafeterias should be leading the way to good health by setting the example of what is a healthy meal and teaching people what to eat and why.. Every person in the hospital for heart disease should have a nutrition class before being checked out from the hospital with follow up education and training in nutrition. Medicare and Medicaid should require patient nutrition education as part of their standard of care. Nutrition information should be run on the hospital TV channel.

[@SO-rq3pm]

This is so true. Doctors are trained to just cure but they have poor knowledge (or no background at all) when it comes to prevention and nutrition! This important education should have been much much more far-reaching, not only in medical school but to EVERYONE in the society! Only by prevention we can minimise the cost of ill-health to the society at large!

[@kerry_runs]

Yeah okay 😆

[@rogerweigel7925]

Unfortunately, most doctors know little about diet and nutrition.

[@GivathBrenner]

I had no idea.....thanks Dr. Greger. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Mr. Phillips - Canada - Retired & sober 42 years

[@laurar9748]

You are the BEST! Thanks for all you teach us. 🥰

[@AndrewPawley11]

Another outstanding and important video.

[@cybrarian9]

Funny, how this also used to be the same with doctors supporting cigarette smoking, and now having a "happy hour" or a "martini lunch." But hey, trust the science.

[@happycook6737]

In this economy, who can afford to drink? Most of us can hardly afford to buy food! Heck, I even quit buying lettuce because it went from $1.25 to $3.79 in just 1 1/2 years. 😠

[@SSSyndrome214]

I needed to hear this. Thanks, Dr. G.

[@leongchanteik]

What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health | Huberman Lab Podcast #86 kzbin.info/www/bejne/epy2YqOhgNV8grs

[@Cedrus1952]

Alcohol in any shape or form is poison.

[@Robert_St-Preux]

Communion wine.

[@Linkous12]

It's sad that so many people have been suckered into thinking alcohol is good for them.

[@rinapaul8936]

Your videos are amazing. I have struggled to convince my fellow doctors. Medical books have backdated information and they use it to justify their drinking.

[@mecarr]

It would be interesting to hear how much it increases the risk of getting cancer. I know it increases it but is the increase really small?

[@reality_design]

AMEN DR GREGOR!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

[@hypnosisforhappiness]

Dr GREGER is the name

[@Addy_Hawaii]

Imagine doctors saying they been drinking

[@lukeweaver9287]

Doctors have some of the shortest lifespans of any vocation. Average was 58 years old a couple of decades ago.

[@Woppettier]

@@lukeweaver9287 Source

[@lukeweaver9287]

@@Woppettier Dead Doctors Don't Lie

[@kturkalo2129]

One more reason the medical profession is losing credibility and respect.

[@emergentform1188]

Great vid! My understanding from the point of view of Chinese medicine is that cancer is an immune deficiency. So I wonder if alcohol is having an immune suppressant effect which is leading to the growth of cancers. Because apparently cancers are normal and happen all the time, what's not normal is the immune failing to recognize and clean them up before they become a problem.

[@emergentform1188]

Love your channel my friend, and your soothing narration, stellar work!

[@rashie]

👍👍

[@HopyHop1]

Does it make a difference if it's hard cider, wine, beer, or hard liquor?

[@maiqueashworth]

carbohydrate 4 calories/1g. fat 9 calories/1g. Alcohol 7 calories/1g.

[@Woppettier]

Fact: you NEED calories. Calories doesn't say anthing about the healthiness of it. If your only measurement is calories, WATER or AIR will win every time. Shame on you

[@CaptainSanchez]

POWERFUL

[@oab465]

I hate when the doc is right, I know I should stop, but I have 2 Guinness every 4 months. Man!!! Someone tell me it's ok.

[@rons5319]

That's a six pack per year. Plenty of people drink 10 Guinness every day.

[@cheryllewis1697]

A six pack per year is okay, imo, but check with your doctor to be sure lol

[@thesleepinggirl]

That’s not much alcohol over the course of a year. It’s not ideal but it’s ok!

[@MutantMessiah]

It also makes us gain fat mass.

[@russb24]

tl;dr: yes.

[@1234kingconan]

I’m grateful I never liked it. I partied a lot as a teenager but after that I didn’t like alcohol. Don’t like how it feels like the whole time after the first 5 minutes.

[@movement2contact]

Even knowing this for years, I can't beat my beer addiction.... 😫💀

[@vegan4theanimals]

I was an alcoholic for a decade. I've been sober for two years, trust me giving it up your physical and mental health will thank you.

[@movement2contact]

@@vegan4theanimals I know that, I just CAN'T...

[@xymonau2468]

You can, but you need help. Find an AA group. You don't have to be on skid row to get help from them.

[@OriZilbershtein]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/epy2YqOhgNV8grs

[@larryc1616]

Stopped drinking alcohol 6 years ago and lost 50 pounds. Work on your own time. Someday it will just click for you. now I need to stop smoking 2-packs/month🤔

[@DominionMovementDotOrg]

yes it can

[@solarcrystal5494]

Alcohol causes pregnancy too

[@stephss]

Hops are far more stacked with phytoestrogens, then soy. Chew on that...

[@fedvvvv]

You are missing the point but I really don't care. Do what you want.

[@cheater00]

Stomach noise at 4:03 🤣 sounds like you're hungry bud

[@andrewilliamson4926]

I'm disappointed you didn't talk about rates. What is the prevalence of cancer among drinkers? Context is everything. How likely is someone who drinks five drinks a day to get cancer? How about one drink? How protective is fiber? Isn't that mostly just because fiber is good for you? If it's also because of the binding, does timing of fiber vs. alcohol intake matter? It may be correct, but the tone and content of the "science" you shared also looks like propaganda, absent evidence. And I'm not saying there isn't mountains of it, just that for this video, I was expecting evidence. After all, the title indicates you're investigating a claim.

[@Woppettier]

Cut meat and animal fat consumption because of blood pressure, lost 20 pounds, but there's nothing that can fill the hole of loneliness and futility of being redundant other than a substance like alcohol

[@xymonau2468]

Now do one on the dangers of caffeine, because so many plant based eaters drink alcohol and eat chocolate in abundance, as well as drink lots of coffee and tea. Caffeine is a dangerous and harmful drug and should be banned except for medicinal purposes.

[@joelleaittama1416]

No, tea and coffee should not be banned. If alcohol had antioxidants like tea and coffee it would probably have been a healthy beverage, but it does not.

[@xymonau2468]

@@joelleaittama1416 You can get all the antioxidants you need from real food, not drugs.

[@xymonau2468]

@Benson So how about doctors? Like Dr Greger? Is he power hungry? I believe governments should set boundaries re acceptable behaviour and re harmful substances. Otherwise it is just a free-for-all. Do you object to the "power hungry" leaders enforcing road rules? Or banning drugs like bath salts? It's ridiculous to single out some poisons as acceptable, and others as not. They are poisons. End of story. AND caffeine is mind-altering.

[@Woppettier]

@@xymonau2468 your story is poorly backed up by any sources. please provide.

[@xymonau2468]

@@Woppettier Plenty of sources and research out there. If you are interested in knowing the truth, I'm sure you are capable of finding facts. I'm not going to run around the web and post links that you will still deny. The facts are there. Go fetch.

[@rogerweigel7925]

Correlation is not causation.

[@rogerweigel7925]

@Benson I thought it was obvious. None of studies cited utilize control groups. They are observational studies that rely on surveys given to people. It is been shown that people often don't remember what they consume or flat-out lie on these surveys. It's like studies that show hamburger is bad for you, when no emphasis is given to burn, ketchup, sauces, fries and soda that usually is consumed alongside hamburger. Please show me a controlled study on food.

[@feelingoffbalance]

Cáncer Research organisation in the UK uses the word 'cause' with regard to alcohol and 7 types of cancer. They are a respected organisation and show evidence of their claims. Researchers do not use the word 'cause' in vain.

[@rogerweigel7925]

@@feelingoffbalance I can almost guarantee you the studies were observational and not controlled.

[@rinapaul8936]

The cigarette industry tried to do the same for a long time. History repeats itself with the alcohol industry. Wake up!

[@rogerweigel7925]

@Benson I never said that. The studies that are cited apparently show a correlation between alcohol and cancer. And correlation is not causation.

[@kripeshaatraya5404]

alcohol is preprocarcinogen not carinogen

[@Jarv263]

There’s always one that knows better than all the scientists researching the topic.

[@xymonau2468]

So?

[@kripeshaatraya5404]

@@Jarv263 I am student of radiotherapy so I know well

[@kerry_runs]

@@kripeshaatraya5404 keep studying junior

[@Jarv263]

@@kripeshaatraya5404 you’re still studying, you’re still learning, stay humble kid.

[@SO-rq3pm]

I suspect coffee is the same problem as alcohol. We're seeing too many non-professional people, including those who make hugely popular health-related videos on KZbin, saying what benefits coffee can bring to your body. I'm very sceptical to what they say because that seems to be their excuses for drinking so much coffee themselves but what's worse is, they mislead others to believe their non-scientific and baseless persuasion!

[@larryc1616]

Coffee has always been falsely known as unhealthy up until the last 5-10 years. We know now it's extremely healthy if you don't use cream and sugar. Use stevia and splash of milk instead.

[@lukeweaver9287]

The worst thing about coffee now is glyphosates. Organic coffee is a better choice, organic decaf even better....since caffeine shuts down the immune system by activation of the parasympathetic system.

[@Woppettier]

Coffee; liver health grade S evidence. Protects fatty liver from inflammation and cirrhosis, as well as cancer. Cardiovascular health grade A. Negative health effects: in some cases on blood pressure, gene variants for this effect are parly known, check one of the vids on this channel. This is the only negative health outcome documented empirically to my awareness. The presence of acrylamides in coffee is the only potential carcinogenic compound; however there is little evidence coffee as a whole raises cancer incidence, possibly because of its other beneficial compounds that are anti-carcinogenic indeed. You are welcome.

[@6681096]

Black coffee is absolutely a healthy drink. But stop drinking caffeinated items at least 10 hours before bed.