[loqi]

Speaking of recommendations that lead to heart disease, three sarcastic cheers for massively understating the risks associated with abstinence from alcohol. Mostly I just hear "moderate consumption is associated with some health benefits", which isn't anywhere close to conveying the findings (questionable, as always!) that not drinking is almost as risky as "heavy" drinking. Especially considering that you practically have to be a raging alcoholic to fall into the "heavy" category.

[yaddayadda]

FYI: In regard to articles published in the Daily Mail about cancer research results, alcohol is still in the mixed camp, but leaning toward 'causes cancer'.

beer both causes and prevents cancer (1 prevents: 5 causes) - http://kill-or-cure.herokuapp.com/a-z/b#term52

wine both causes and prevents cancer (not counting dups - 14 prevents : 17 causes) - http://kill-or-cure.herokuapp.com/a-z/w#term234

[tsotha]

Adams has a good point relating to alcohol, though. They haven't been unable to untangle correlation and causation. I used to be a "moderate drinker" until I developed (unrelated) health problems that mean taking medication every day. When I take my meds I can't drink. These health problems are statistically likely to end me sooner than most people.

So I'm likely going to be in the "doesn't drink dies earlier than average" column, but it has nothing to do with alcohol.

[loqi]

I'm sure that point is not lost on researchers, but yeah, factoring in the effect of existing conditions is easier said than done correctly.

[apl]

Do you have any decent sources on that one?

[loqi]

Didn't hang onto any links, sorry. The stuff I saw will probably turn up in a search for "alcohol" and "total mortality", though.

[stephengillie]

http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/truth-wont-admit-dr...

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2017200...