| As studies have shown, estrogen is the hormone | | | | addicted, are or could become pregnant, have a |
| that fuels 80% of breast cancer cases. | | | | medical condition that is affected by alcohol or re |
| Any type of alcohol, be it beer, wine, spirits or | | | | taking any medication that could have side effects |
| something else can change hormonal levels. It is | | | | when mixed with alcohol. |
| important to note that it is not the alcohol (in say | | | | Studies have shown that women who do not |
| wine) that protects you, but the flavonoids and | | | | drink alcohol are at a much lower risk for |
| antioxidants. What determines risk the the alcohol | | | | developing breast cancer than those that start. |
| itself and the quantity in which it is consumed. | | | | Similarly, those that drink alcohol heavily or to |
| As a general rule a safe guideline for alcohol | | | | excess ("falling down drunk") consistently (more |
| consumption is five ounces of wine, twelve | | | | than two or three times per day) are at a much |
| ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor. That | | | | greater risk. |
| breaks down to around one drink per day. If you | | | | To minimize the effect of alcohol as a risk factor, |
| have two your risk for developing breast cancer | | | | the strategy is simple. Drink moderately and not in |
| increases by 10%, and having three drinks will | | | | great quantities, never drink when pregnant. You |
| increase that risk to 30%. | | | | may even choose to not drink alcohol altogether, |
| In fact this equals smoking a pack of cigarettes a | | | | instead drinking sparkling juice or alcohol free wine |
| day. Regular drinking raises your estrogen level, | | | | and beer. Ultimately, as we have seen, in very |
| thereby exposing your breast tissue and can | | | | moderate quantities, alcohol can help you |
| activate the cells to become cancerous. | | | | decrease your risk, but overindulgence can have |
| As a rule, alcohol should be avoided if you are | | | | the opposite effect. |