Men should not consume more than one alcoholic beverage per day, according to the recommendations of a federal commission for new American dietary guidelines.
That is a reduction of the current recommended limit of two drinks per day, and is in line with the guidance for women. The shift reflects the evolving thinking of scientists about moderate drinking, and comes as a 20-year increase in Americans’ drinking becomes faster during the pandemic.
Previous research linked moderate drinking to a lower risk of heart disease. But many health experts now say that some of those studies are flawed, and that there is more and better evidence showing broader health risks from alcohol.
“We looked at deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and more than 60 to alcohol-related conditions,” said Timothy Naimi, a doctor and alcohol researcher at Boston University who served on the federal commission. ‘Whatever study you see, two drinks a day are associated with a higher risk of death than drinking one drink a day. In the context of a health document, why would you encourage people to drink up to a level where mortality is increasing? “
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