Every Drop of Alcohol is Harmful! Chinese People are More Susceptible to Alcohol-Induced Cancer, These 9 Groups Should Avoid Alcohol Completely

Every Drop of Alcohol is Harmful! Chinese People are More Susceptible to Alcohol-Induced Cancer, These 9 Groups Should Avoid Alcohol CompletelyMany people, like Lao Yang, believe that moderate drinking is beneficial to physical and mental health. He often enjoys a small drink, but recently, after a fight with his wife, he quit drinking out of spite

Every Drop of Alcohol is Harmful! Chinese People are More Susceptible to Alcohol-Induced Cancer, These 9 Groups Should Avoid Alcohol Completely

Many people, like Lao Yang, believe that moderate drinking is beneficial to physical and mental health. He often enjoys a small drink, but recently, after a fight with his wife, he quit drinking out of spite. However, he couldn't resist the temptation and picked up the glass again. Seeing this, his wife scolded him, "Didn't you have the courage to quit drinking? Look at you, you can't even control yourself!" "It's getting cold and rainy, a little drink will warm me up. Besides, a little won't hurt," Lao Yang replied guiltily. His wife countered, "Who says a little won't hurt? Studies have shown that abstaining from alcohol is beneficial to physical and mental health. Chinese people are at a higher risk of death even with moderate drinking!"

Many people associate drinking with benefits to physical and mental health, but research published in The Lancet indicates that Chinese individuals are more susceptible to alcohol-induced cancer!

I. Every Drop of Alcohol is Harmful, Chinese People are More Prone to Alcohol-Induced Cancer

A large-scale global study published in The Lancet Oncology in 2021 found that 740,000 new cancer cases were attributed to alcohol consumption in 2020. Even moderate drinking leads to over 100,000 new cancer cases annually. Studies have identified alcohol-related cancers including esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, oral cancer, lip cancer, rectal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Don't think that a little drink is harmless; in fact, even moderate drinking increases the risk of cancer.

Peng Yuqing, Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Prevention at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Eastern Hospital, stated: "In traditional Chinese medicine, alcohol is considered a medicine, and it can be effective when used correctly. However, 'every medicine has its side effects,' and without any problems, it's not advisable to casually consume alcohol."

In 2019, a study involving 500,000 individuals published in The Lancet indicated that Chinese individuals have a deficiency in the key gene that metabolizes alcohol, leading to reduced alcohol metabolism capacity, making them more susceptible to alcohol-induced cancer. Additionally, a study involving 28 million people published in The Lancet in 2018 found that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. The safest amount of alcohol consumption is "0," and it is recommended that individuals abstain from alcohol for their health.

II. No Alcohol Consumption is Innocent, Alcohol Carcinogenesis Occurs in Just a Few Steps

Many people enjoy drinking at business gatherings and socializing with friends, making alcohol seem commonplace. Zhang Jing, Director of the Third Department of Hepatology at Beijing You'an Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, stated: "No alcohol consumption is innocent. Alcohol-induced cancer occurs in just a few steps. Let's examine how alcohol triggers liver cancer."

1. Alcohol Conversion to Acetaldehyde

90% of the alcohol ingested by humans is metabolized by the liver. The primary component of alcohol is ethanol. Ethanol is metabolized in the liver into acetaldehyde, ultimately broken down into carbon dioxide, water, etc. However, acetaldehyde causes irreversible damage to the liver.

2. DNA Damage and Immune Function Impairment

With continuous alcohol intake, a substance is produced in the human plasma that inhibits cell immunity, damages DNA, prevents cancer cells from being killed by the immune system, and even induces liver cancer.

3. Fatty Liver

Alcohol also causes abnormalities in the metabolism of fatty acids by liver cells, leading to fat accumulation in the liver, causing alcoholic fatty liver or fatty liver. As liver cell fat degeneration occurs repeatedly, it can further develop into liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

4. Alcoholic Hepatitis

Excessive alcohol consumption exceeding the liver's capacity, particularly for over five consecutive years, increases the risk of alcoholic hepatitis.

5. Cirrhosis

Studies have shown that most Chinese individuals have inadequate alcohol metabolism capacity, and continued excessive drinking can promote the development of alcoholic hepatitis into cirrhosis.

6. Liver Cancer

Many individuals have underlying hepatitis B or hepatitis C. If combined with alcoholic damage, they can gradually become susceptible to liver cancer.

Besides potentially causing cancer, alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of pancreatitis, gastric ulcers, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, and other diseases. Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to chronic alcohol poisoning, which over time can affect mental health and induce sexual dysfunction.

III. Doctors Advise: These 9 Groups Should Avoid Alcohol Completely

Xia Gongxu, Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Prevention at Nanjing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Jiangsu Province, stated: "Alcohol has so many harmful effects, and the safest amount of alcohol consumption is 0. These groups should avoid alcohol completely."

1. Gout Patients: Beer contains purines, which are metabolized to uric acid by the body. Gout patients should avoid beer.

2. Hemorrhoid Patients: Alcohol can trigger or aggravate hemorrhoids.

3. Urinary Stone Patients: Beer contains oxalic acid, inosine nucleotides, calcium, and other components that can promote the formation of urinary stones.

4. Hypertension and Heart Disease Patients: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to elevated blood pressure and potentially induce palpitations, arrhythmias, and other symptoms.

5. Osteoporosis Patients: Alcohol inhibits the absorption and activation of vitamin D and calcium, counteracting osteoblasts. It is not recommended for osteoporosis patients to consume alcohol.

6. Eye Disease Patients: The methanol in alcohol can have toxic effects on the retina, leading to a decrease in the eye's ability to adapt to light. It is recommended that individuals with glaucoma, myopia, and other eye diseases avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

7. Pregnant and Lactating Women: Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy can affect fetal health, and alcohol consumption during lactation is detrimental to the baby's health.

8. Digestive System Disease Patients: Individuals with pre-existing digestive system diseases may experience damage to the gastric mucosa due to alcohol, worsening their condition.

9. Hepatitis Patients: Alcohol has a damaging effect on the liver. It is not recommended for hepatitis patients to consume excessive alcohol.

Studies have found that Chinese individuals are more susceptible to cancer due to genetic defects in alcohol metabolism. In fact, alcohol not only causes cancer but also causes significant damage to the body. It is recommended that the above groups avoid excessive alcohol consumption and abstain from alcohol altogether.

References:

[1] "They Sold You the Risk of Over 60 Diseases and Called it "Beneficial to Health"!" Health Times. June 13, 2023.

[2] "One Drink, Eight Cancers! 740,000 People Drank Themselves to Cancer Last Year, They Will Regret it!" Health Times. July 15, 2021.

[3] "No Alcohol Consumption is Innocent! The Lancet Oncology: 740,000 Cancer Cases Attributed to Alcohol Consumption in 2020." Life Times. July 27, 2021.

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