Wine is a product of human civilization and the spice of human life. From ancient times to the present, wine has occupied an important place in the food culture of the Chinese. Whether it is a festival, a banquet, business, making friends, or a daily drink, relieving fatigue and dissipating sorrows, wine is an indispensable part.
Some people say that alcohol can refresh the mind, increase appetite, promote blood circulation, and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
But, did you know that drinking alcohol not only affects your health, but it may also increase your risk of cancer. According to statistics, about 5.5% of new cancers and 5.8% of cancer deaths worldwide are thought to be alcohol-related.
In China, previous prospective studies on alcohol and cancer were limited by small sample sizes and single research scope, and the richness and reliability of data were far from those in the international world. However, with the changes in drinking Xi habits and amounts of alcohol consumption in Chinese in recent years, the effects of alcohol on cancer have become increasingly apparent.
So, what types of alcohol use can cause cancer, how does alcohol affect the human body, are there any benefits to drinking, and how do we properly view and deal with the relationship between ourselves and others and drinking?
1. Alcohol is an accomplice to cancer
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancers previously thought to be alcohol-related, such as esophageal cancer, mouth and throat cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and more. These cancers occur mainly because alcohol is metabolized in the human body into acetaldehyde, which is a strong carcinogen, which can damage the DNA of cells, leading to genetic mutations in cells, thereby inducing the occurrence of cancer.
In addition, alcohol can also interfere with the normal differentiation and apoptosis of cells, increase cell proliferation and invasion, and promote the development of cancer. Alcohol can also affect the body's immune system and reduce the body's resistance to cancer.
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of lung and gallbladder cancer. These cancers occur mainly because alcohol can increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers, because alcohol can increase the residence time of carcinogens in tobacco in the mouth and esophagus, thereby increasing the likelihood of cancerous transformation in these areas. Alcohol can also affect the contractile function of the gallbladder, leading to cholestasis, increasing inflammation and stones in the gallbladder, thereby increasing the risk of gallbladder cancer.
Drinking alcohol can affect the incidence of breast cancer. These cancers occur mainly because alcohol can affect women's estrogen levels, estrogen is an important promoter of breast cancer, alcohol can increase the synthesis and release of estrogen, thereby increasing the proliferation and carcinogenesis of breast cells. Alcohol can also affect the DNA repair ability of breast cells, increasing genetic susceptibility to breast cancer.
Drinking alcohol can affect the risk of other types of cancer that are not listed by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). These cancers occur mainly because alcohol can interact with other carcinogenic factors (such as viruses, chemicals, radiation, etc.) and increase the risk of cancer.
For example, alcohol can increase the risk of cervical cancer in people with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection because alcohol can reduce the body's immune response to HPV, which can increase the persistence of HPV infection and cancerous transformation in the cervix. Alcohol can also increase the risk of gastric cancer in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, because alcohol can stimulate the secretion of gastric acid, thereby increasing the damage and inflammation of the gastric mucosa, and promoting the colonization and carcinogenesis of H. pylori in the stomach.
2. Wine is the protector of cancer
Drinking alcohol reduces the risk of cancer in certain parts of the population or in certain groups. The reduction of these cancers is mainly due to the fact that alcohol has certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which can remove free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress in cells, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of cancer. In addition, alcohol can also affect the body's metabolism and hormone levels, which regulates the development of cancer.
Drinking alcohol reduces the risk of kidney cancer. The reduction of these cancers is mainly due to the fact that alcohol can increase the excretion of urine, thereby reducing the burden on the kidneys and reducing kidney damage and cancer.
Drinking alcohol reduces the risk of thyroid cancer. The reduction of these cancers is mainly due to the fact that alcohol can affect the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, thereby regulating the function of the thyroid gland and inhibiting the proliferation and carcinogenesis of thyroid cells.
Drinking alcohol reduces the risk of prostate cancer. The decrease in these cancers is mainly due to the fact that alcohol can affect androgen levels in men, androgens are important promoters of prostate cancer, and alcohol can reduce the synthesis and release of androgens, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and carcinogenesis of prostate cells.
3. Complex factors of cancer
Drinking alcohol may not have a significant harmful effect on some parts or certain groups of people. These sites or groups of people are characterized primarily by their ability to metabolize alcohol, or their alcohol intake is lower, or their alcohol type is healthier, or their alcohol interacts favorably with other factors, thereby reducing the effects of alcohol on cancer.
For example, some Asians have lower activity in alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, causing them to be prone to uncomfortable reactions such as flushing, headaches, and nausea after drinking, which can limit their alcohol intake and thus reduce the harm of alcohol. For example, some studies have shown that the polyphenols in red wine can counteract some of the negative effects of alcohol, thereby reducing the harm of alcohol.
Drinking alcohol may have some level of protection for some parts or certain groups of people. These sites or populations are characterized mainly by the fact that the effect of their alcohol on cancer is weaker compared to the effect of other factors, or that the effect of their alcohol on cancer cancels out the effects of other factors, or that the effect of their alcohol on cancer reinforces the effects of other factors, thereby increasing the protective effect of alcohol.
Alcohol consumption may be influenced by other factors such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, etc., for certain parts or certain groups of people.
These sites or populations are characterized mainly by the fact that the effects of their alcohol on cancer are not isolated but interrelated with other factors, or that the effects of their alcohol on cancer are not dominant, but are masked by other factors, or that the effects of their alcohol on cancer are not fixed but change with other factors, making it difficult to distinguish and assess the effects of alcohol on cancer.
For example, some studies have shown that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer, but there are also some studies that have shown that drinking alcohol can reduce the risk of breast cancer, which may be related to a woman's genetics, age, weight, fertility, breastfeeding, hormones, and other factors, making it difficult to distinguish and evaluate the effects of alcohol on breast cancer.
For example, some studies have shown that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, but there are also some studies that have shown that drinking alcohol can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, which may be related to people's diet, exercise, intestinal flora, genetics and other factors, making it difficult to distinguish and evaluate the effects of alcohol on colorectal cancer.