Have you seen the 2025 US Surgeon General’s advisory on alcohol and cancer?

The US Surgeon General is recommending that there be a warning label on alcoholic beverages and a consideration of revising the recommended intakes of alcohol for the general population. There is robust data linking alcohol intake with the development of at least seven types of cancers.⁣⁣

More to know:
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✨Ethanol (which is in alcoholic beverages) is metabolized into a toxin called acetaldehyde which is highly inflammatory and can damage our DNA.⁣⁣
✨Alcohol intake can influence estrogen levels.⁣⁣
✨Alcohol intake can damage the gut lining and substantially harm the gut microbiome causing downstream effects in digestion and overall health.⁣⁣
✨Wine contains resveratrol and polyphenols but so does chocolate, blueberries, cranberries and the skin of grapes. ⁣
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🌱Choosing not to drink alcohol is becoming more common, yet some may still face questions or criticism in social settings for abstaining. No one questions a person’s choice to skip any other beverage. Skipping alcohol doesn’t need to be a spectacle.⁣
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🌱We’re all adults capable of making our own choices, so there’s no judgment if you choose to continue drinking alcohol.⁣ If you are someone who has concerns about inflammation, and you continue to drink alcohol, this might be something to ponder.
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Informed Consent Matters

⁣As a dietitian and budding scientist, it is part of my job to make my patients and my community aware of alcohol and its impacts on health. People have the right to about the risks associated with what they choose to consume.

Here is a link to the full advisory notification and document.
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PMID: 34270924 PMID: 36739238 PMID: 34579050

As always, thanks for reading x

Crystal McLean, MS, RD, LDN