Rethink your drink: alcohol and your health

Sheila Hautbois, PA-C, is a physician assistant with a master’s in public health who is also a certified health education specialist and a certified lifestyle educator. A lifestyle medicine specialist, Sheila provides personalized health coaching and patient education with the goal of preventing, treating and reversing chronic disease.

Sheila is part of the Inova 360° Concierge Medicine team, offering a high-level, personal service approach to healthcare with a focus on better total health. 

Stephanie Roberts, MPH, RDN, CHC, is a registered dietitian. She leverages her public health background to support clients with culturally relevant and evidence-based nutrition education. Stephanie’s goal is to support each of her client’s individualized journeys by creating obtainable goals and celebrating success along the way.

Stephanie is part of the Inova Well team, where she takes a whole-human approach to wellness.

For decades, many believed that moderate alcohol consumption—especially red wine—could benefit health. This idea gained popularity in the 1990s, thanks to research on the so-called “French Paradox,” which reported a relatively low incidence of heart disease in France despite a diet relatively high in saturated fat. In 1991, the television show “60 Minutes” aired a segment on the French Paradox, suggesting that the country’s high red wine intake was responsible for its lower heart disease rate. Wine, and specifically the polyphenol resveratrol, was praised for its antioxidant properties, which could protect cells from damage. The public responded quickly—U.S. red wine sales jumped 40% in the year after the episode aired.

Before reaching for a nightly glass of wine, however, it’s important to know that the “protective effects” of alcohol were greatly overstated. Correlation is not causation. While wine got the spotlight, the overall French dietary pattern is likely the real hero for heart health. The typical French diet includes more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, less processed food, and fewer snacks. This way of eating aligns with the Mediterranean diet, one of the most widely studied and recommended patterns for heart health.

Research on alcohol has expanded far beyond heart disease. Alcohol use is now associated with a wide range of negative health outcomes, including various cancers, weight gain, liver damage, type 2 diabetes, dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, sleep disturbances, impaired brain function, mental health concerns, relationship strain, accidents and injuries, and alcohol dependence.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol intake has been increasing. In 2021, U.S. adults consumed an average of 2.83 gallons of pure alcohol—about 603 standard drinks per person.

A standard drink is defined by NIAAA as:

• 12 oz. of beer
• 5 oz. of wine
• 1.5 oz. of hard liquor

What do experts recommend?

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for 2020–2025 advise that adults who do not drink should not start drinking for any reason. For those who do drink, are not pregnant, and have no medical issues or medication-related restrictions, alcohol intake should be limited to:

• Women: 1 drink or less per day
• Men: 2 drinks or less per day

Bottom line

If you don’t drink alcohol, there is no reason to start. If you do drink, take an honest look at your intake and consider whether it supports your health goals.

Our Inova 360° Concierge Medicine healthcare team is ready to discuss alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle topics with you. To schedule an appointment with PA Sheila Hautbois for guidance and support with optimizing your lifestyle and health, contact your Inova 360° Concierge Medicine physician. To schedule a session with Inova Well registered dietitian Stephanie Roberts to discuss personalized nutrient goals and meal planning, call 571-472-1440.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can benefit from a personalized approach to your health and becoming a member, contact Inova 360° Concierge Medicine.