What happens when you drink a cocktail every day

What happens when you drink a cocktail every day

Illustrated recipe: Lemonade Mimosa

You could put your heart in danger

Although alcohol has a reputation for being a heart-healthy drink, more recent research shows that it’s actually not so good for your heart. A 2021 study in the European journal of the heart, which included 107,485 people over a 14-year period, found that drinking just 12 grams of alcohol a day (about one standard drink) was associated with a 16% increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation. (Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that increases your risk of stroke and heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.) “While the risk of harm after a drink is low for most people, the risk is not zero for everyone,” says George F. Koob, Ph.D.., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adding that it is unclear who might be at risk from drinking low amounts of alcohol.

You might be having a bad night’s sleep

More than one in three Americans don’t get enough sleep, defined as at least seven hours a night, according to Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention. A nighttime cocktail may induce drowsiness, but it will ultimately do your sleep no favors. For what? “In general, alcohol shortens the time it takes people to fall asleep, but disrupts sleep architecture and promotes early awakening,” says Koob. “To the drinker, it can make the alcohol seem like it’s helping sleep when in fact it’s reducing the quality of sleep,” he says. Koob points to a 2018 study in JMIR Mental Healthwhich showed that one or two drinks of alcohol before sleep disrupt your nervous system and decrease your body’s ability to relax during sleep.

You could gain weight

There are many variables involved in weight gain, but if you’re aiming to lose weight and want to have a cocktail in the evening, this habit could add excess calories to your diet depending on what you eat and drink. else that day. A study in Nutrients in 2021 on adults in Spain found that one of the predictors of weight gain during COVID-19 lockdowns was alcohol consumption; the authors pointed out that this could be because the alcohol itself is high in calories. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram and can turn into fat when not used by the body. Many cocktails are also high in sugar, such as frozen drinks (daiquiris, margaritas), tonic drinks, mojitos, whiskey sours and espresso martinis. Added sugar also increases the calorie count in cocktails.

You may have a higher risk of certain cancers

When it comes to cancer risk, the news about alcohol of any kind is not good. “There is no perfectly safe level of alcohol consumption, which is especially true for your cancer risk,” Koob says. According to a 2020 article in JAMA, 87,000 cases of cancer each year are associated with alcohol consumption, including esophageal cancer, breast cancer in women, colorectal cancer and others. Even one or two drinks a day can increase the risk of female breast cancer, the authors point out. This is why the American Institute for Cancer Research suggests abstaining from drinking alcohol to prevent cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cocktails bad for your health?

As with all food and drink, cocktails can be enjoyed in moderation. Yet unlike other types of alcohol, cocktails are typically loaded with added sugars, and “research suggests that there is no perfectly safe level of alcohol consumption,” Koob says. Regular alcohol consumption can increase your risk of heart problems, cancer, trouble sleeping and more.

Which cocktail is the least healthy?

Any very sweet drink high in added sugars and high alcohol cocktails will be the least nutritious.

Is drinking one cocktail a day bad for you?

Yes. According to World Health Organization, no amount of alcohol is safe because it causes at least seven types of cancer, including bowel cancer and breast cancer in women. Additionally, some people should avoid alcohol completely for other reasons, including those recovering from alcohol use disorder or who are unable to control how much they drink, as well as those pregnant people, those who could become pregnant, and people who have certain medical conditions or are taking prescription medications that could interact with alcohol.

The essential

Cocktails are enjoyed, like all things, in moderation. However, drinking alcohol regularly carries a certain risk of health problems. You’ll need to weigh your risks based on your medical history, but remember that drinking less is significantly better than drinking more. If you decide to reduce or eliminate cocktails, you can always switch to mocktails. You can make your own or buy canned options.