By Joy Stephenson-Laws, JD, Founder 

If you pick up a pack of cigarettes, you cannot miss the label on the pack that clearly warns that the use of this product might cause cancer. What if the same were true if you picked up a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer? Well, the U.S. surgeon general now wants warning labels on alcohol products.

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Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. surgeon general, recently issued a new advisory warning about the connection between drinking alcohol and increased cancer risk, according to a report from CNBC.

“He pushed for alcohol labels to be more visible and include a warning about the increased risk of cancer, to reassess recommended limits for alcohol consumption based on the latest research and expand education to increase general awareness that alcohol consumption increases cancer risk.”

I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with him and hope to see these warning labels soon. There’s no sugarcoating it. Alcohol is, in fact, a carcinogen (a substance or agent that can increase the risk of developing cancer).

“Alcohol use is one of the most important preventable risk factors for cancer, along with tobacco use and excess body weight. Alcohol use accounts for about 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths in the United States. Yet many people don’t know about the link between alcohol use and cancer,” according to the American Cancer Society.

The American Cancer Society shares that drinking alcohol is linked to several types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum as well as breast. There is also reason to believe that consuming alcohol may increase the risk of stomach cancer, and the American Cancer Society states that the risk of breast cancer specifically seems to be increased even from consuming small amounts of alcohol.

Let’s dig a bit deeper on perhaps why there is this connection between drinking alcohol and increased cancer risk. It’s actually pretty simple to understand and quite shocking when you think about it.

(American Cancer Society’s Updated Guidelines In Cancer Prevention)

Alcohol is ethanol.

“Ethanol is present in alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, spirits) when diluted. It is used as a topical agent to prevent skin infections, in pharmaceutical preparations (e.g. rubbing compounds, lotions, tonics, colognes), cosmetics, and in perfumes. Ethanol may be present in fuels, labelled as ethanolblended fuels, and is used as an industrial solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, and hydrocarbons,” according to the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

“It is used to make many chemical compounds, lacquers, plastics and plasticizers, rubber and rubber accelerators, aerosols, mouthwash products, soaps and cleaning preparations, polishes, surface coatings, dyes, inks, adhesives, preservatives, pesticides, explosives, petrol additives/substitutes, elastomers, antifreeze, yeast growth medium, human and veterinary medicines and as a dehydrating agent.”

So now that you know what ethanol is, does this sound like something you would regularly want to put in your body? I hope your answer is absolutely not!

Drinking alcohol can lead to the damage of body tissues, impact hormone health in a negative way, contribute to obesity and depression and affect the way we absorb nutrients (which is a key bodily process for healthy and happy longevity).

“Alcohol might affect the body’s ability to absorb some nutrients, such as folate. Folate is a vitamin that cells in the body need to stay healthy. Absorption of nutrients can be even worse in heavy drinkers, who often consume low levels of folate to begin with. Low folate levels may play a role in the risk of some cancers, such as breast and colorectal cancer,” (American Cancer Society).

If you want to age faster, drinking alcohol is an effective method. Drinking alcohol dehydrates the skin and contributes to collagen loss, increases inflammation (which is not good for the complexion) and contributes to a heavy middle area. Beer belly and wine gut are real issues.

Don't hate the messenger.

I know many people will read this and not like it, but it’s the truth. Whether you drink alcohol or not is a personal choice, however, if you are a regular drinker I hope this at least motivates you to significantly cut back.

Being sober is cool and trendy.

Rihanna just recently revealed that she hasn’t had a drink in a year. There are so many other sober celebrities, including Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Kendrick Lamar, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lopez and more.

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Try abstaining from alcohol for a month, and I bet you will experience healthier, more hydrated skin, better sleep, less anxiety, more motivation and better relationships. Dare I say it might even improve your sex life!

(5 Reasons Men Really Need to Watch the Booze)

If you are really sober curious, I highly recommend giving up alcohol for a year. Think about it this way. You can always go back to drinking. Alcohol is not going anywhere. Why not try this experiment and see what it does for your life. It may feel like you are being deprived of something at first, but I bet you will find that you gain so much more in return. You may never want to drink alcohol again.

(Men...If You’re Trying to Make A Baby, You May Want to Ditch the Booze - At Least For 6 Months)

Treat yourself.

The best part about not drinking alcohol is all of the money and time you save. Abstaining from alcohol means no more nursing hangovers, no wasting money on expensive bottles of wine and fancy cocktails and no more late night Grub Hub orders. Reward your sobriety with a good facial or a little gift for yourself.

Enjoy your healthy life!

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or another competent healthcare practitioner to get specific medical advice for your situation.                                        

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses, and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products, and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.