The Nutrition Source Alcohol

Moderate drinking can be healthy—but not for everyone. You must weigh the benefits and risks.

Alcohol's link with health is a bit Dr. Jekyll and a bit Mr. Hyde. Exactly which face it shows depends largely on who's drinking and how much. For most moderate drinkers, alcohol has overall health benefits. While moderate drinking can increase the risk of colon and breast cancer, these risks are trumped by the boost in cardiovascular health—especially in middle age, when heart disease begins to account for an increasingly large share of disease and deaths.

Non-drinkers, however, shouldn't feel the need to start drinking to improve their health. Heavy drinkers, with their increased risk of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, cirrhosis, and dependence should cut back or stop drinking altogether. A pregnant woman should also avoid alcohol, since it can cause brain damage to the unborn child.

What's considered moderate drinking? For women, it's up to one drink per day; for men, it's up to two drinks per day. What's considered a drink? A general guideline is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of hard liquor, such as vodka or whiskey.