New research on alcohol and health has shed new light on the alcohol-free lifestyle health benefits. Unlike earlier studies that suggested moderate drinking might have health benefits, Scientists from the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research found that complete abstinence from alcohol is associated with lower mortality risk.
After re-analysing 107 studies, the Canadian scientists questioned the methodology used by their predecessors. Dr. Tim Stockwell – the main author of the study – claimed that “estimates of the health benefits from alcohol have been exaggerated while its harms have been underestimated.” According to the researchers, these previous studies often compared drinkers to sick individuals, including people who stopped drinking by medical advice due to health issues.
As a consequence of these unrealistic comparisons, light/moderate drinkers were portrayed as healthier than teetotallers. On the other hand, the new studies, conducted with healthier people and excluding former and occasional drinkers from the abstainer category, found no evidence of higher longevity between the light/moderate drinkers.
This is not the first time that scientists are rethinking moderate alcohol consumption. In 2018, the Global Burden of Diseases study from the University of Washington found that there were 2.8 million alcohol-related deaths in 2016 and pointed to alcoholism as the major risk factor for premature death in 15 to 49-year-olds. They suggested that governments should reinforce the benefits of abstaining from alcohol and were straightforward in their advice: “Our results show that the safest level of drinking is none.”
The facts are before us, and our health choices significantly impact not only our physical health but also our overall well-being. Every Tuesday, at the Universal Church, we have the “Health Day”, a meeting aimed at promoting healthier lifestyle choices and teaching people how they could use their faith as a complement to any medical treatment they may be receiving. Join us at your nearest Universal Church.
Event: Health Day
Date and Time: Tuesdays at 7:30pm (also at 7am, 10am & 3pm)
Location: At your local Universal Church
Disclaimer: The UCKG HelpCentre’s spiritual advice is to be seen as a complement to the scientifically proven treatment you may be receiving. The UCKG HelpCentre does not claim to heal people but believes that God can through the power of faith. Always follow your doctor’s instructions.
