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Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

nytimes.com

81–90 of 167 posts

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#81
post #69

Alcohol is definitely one of the most harmful drugs out there. In terms of addictiveness, physical side effects (short and long term), and the kind of behavior that people are likely to engage in while under the influence, the only things worse are probably IV painkillers and smoked meth/crack. As a society we need to get our heads out of our asses and challenge our notions of what kind of drug use is and isn't accep…

Alcohol is shilled so hard in America. It's disgusting. I honestly don't know why it isn't more strictly regulated. I used to binge drink every few nights when I was younger. Like most people that have drank more than they should have, I have lots of stories of mischief and questionable (at best, sometimes straight illegal) behavior. And these are the stories I used to trade with friends and coworkers. Oh man, they w…

One of my friends growing up had a child when he was a teenager, and he and I had a candid talk about this sort of thing once. I pointed out that he was close to his father, who would always tell him stories of all the 'legendary' and reckless mischief he made, and how he's somehow grown up to make the same kinds of mistakes, whereas I never knew my father, and thus didn't have any legendary tales to idolize, instead spending my time trying to figure out who I wanted to be on my own. And I basically said "when you go on to tell your child about all the fun you had causing mischief, make sure you understand that they're probably going to look up to you no matter what stories you tell them. Make sure you tell them ones worth hearing."

Off-topic, but this is one of the reason's I get irritated with this "child needs both parents" crap that people spout sometimes. A child needs as many good parents as they can find, and sometimes that number is 1.

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#82
post #64

The N.Y. Times once reported on the lifespans of the people of Ikaria, who apparently have the longest recorded lifespans, as a group, in the world. Their diet includes moderate amounts of wine. “Wine — in moderation — had been shown to be good for you if consumed as part of a Mediterranean diet, because it prompts the body to absorb more flavonoids, a type of antioxidant” Not a medical research study, but I wonder h…

Are we sure the lifespan thing isn't just a statistical quirk? If you take a thousand small places, one is bound to have the longest-living people in the world.

Yeah and that place is Ikaria.

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#83
post #57
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think mostly when people cite this they are referring to this study: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20101101/... Alcohol ranks very highly because of it's severe harmful effects on the body. However, behavioral effects tend to be those which make drug users a threat to society. But cocaine's harm is highly dependent on its form. In some pre-Colombian civilizations, as well as in some parts of mo…

A big obvious difference between alcohol and other drugs that also makes it popular is that in moderation it is not all that intoxicating or impairing. Unlike marijuana and mushrooms it is easily possible to have a drink or two and function normally. This accounts for a lot of its social acceptability. Simply put, unless you really overindulge, it doesn’t “fuck you up”. This is also generally true of hard drugs like…

> Unlike marijuana and mushrooms it is easily possible to have a drink or two and function normally. This accounts for a lot of its social acceptability.

You are stipulating that ethanol [0] is the only psychoactive substance which can be properly dosed for its effects? Sorry, but you realize that's rather.. uneducated? It's about potency, tolerance, bio-compatibility and the resulting individual threshold.

Case in point: Your "one or two" drinks could be beer, booze shots, cocktails, wine and many other products with varying, often not even labeled, potency. You could drink them over the course of 2 hours or 5 minutes, all of that influences the final effects, especially how regularly you are having your "only one or two drinks".

That's why there are such things as "functioning alcoholics" or people who regularly consume high potency cannabis and thus don't even notice any effects when consuming low potency cannabis.

[0] https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Alcohol

[1] https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Cannabis

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we sure the lifespan thing isn't just a statistical quirk? If you take a thousand small places, one is bound to have the longest-living people in the world.

Yeah and that place is Ikaria.

My point is that it's because of luck rather than because the residents are doing something special.

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#87
post #66
post #64

The N.Y. Times once reported on the lifespans of the people of Ikaria, who apparently have the longest recorded lifespans, as a group, in the world. Their diet includes moderate amounts of wine. “Wine — in moderation — had been shown to be good for you if consumed as part of a Mediterranean diet, because it prompts the body to absorb more flavonoids, a type of antioxidant” Not a medical research study, but I wonder h…

sure, it might be the alcohol in the wine, or it could be the grape itself. has there been a study that compared wine, unfermented wine, dealcoholized wine, grape juice, and grape juice + ethanol?

>> unfermented wine

Is there such a thing?

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#88
post #20
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People talk about obesity all the time. The problem is nobody knows what to do about it.

I think we know what to do but nobody has the courage to do something.

So much of it relates to consumption, and no one makes money from people eating less. People however make money from pushing gym memberships or active wear or supplements.

Everywhere from restaurants to supermarkets to chocolate bar companies to fast food all make more money if you eat more. There's no incentive to advertise eating less.

You don't see restaurants advertising smaller or even reasonable portions - it's always giant burgers or steaks or monstrous pizzas. In fact, it's a regular critique of fancy restaurants that they have tiny, considered portions. So, people instead eat until they're well-beyond sated. Day after day.

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#89
post #87
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

sure, it might be the alcohol in the wine, or it could be the grape itself. has there been a study that compared wine, unfermented wine, dealcoholized wine, grape juice, and grape juice + ethanol?

>> unfermented wine Is there such a thing?

Grape juice?

I'm not trying to be snarling, I actually am wondering something else is added to grapes to make it pre-wine?

Re: Cancer Doctors Cite Risks of Drinking Alcohol

#90
post #81
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alcohol is shilled so hard in America. It's disgusting. I honestly don't know why it isn't more strictly regulated. I used to binge drink every few nights when I was younger. Like most people that have drank more than they should have, I have lots of stories of mischief and questionable (at best, sometimes straight illegal) behavior. And these are the stories I used to trade with friends and coworkers. Oh man, they w…

One of my friends growing up had a child when he was a teenager, and he and I had a candid talk about this sort of thing once. I pointed out that he was close to his father, who would always tell him stories of all the 'legendary' and reckless mischief he made, and how he's somehow grown up to make the same kinds of mistakes, whereas I never knew my father, and thus didn't have any legendary tales to idolize, instead…

Totally on point.

If you are an American, I challenge you to start noticing:

"Oh man, I was soooo shitfaced..."

"I was so hungover..."

"Dude, I don't even know how I made it home..."

"Nah, I'm fine to drive..."

"I'm sorry, it was the booze talking..."

"I need a fuckin' drink after this..."

"One for the road..."

"I don't give a shit, I need to piss..."

"Fuuuuuck it!"

Notice the advertising in convenience stores. The standees of scantily clad women holding a frosty bottle of beer. Usually near the Slurpee section. Or maybe they came and switched it out to a football playeror a jolly Santa made out of 12 packs. Tis the season!

America needs to wake up. I don't believe in prohibition of any drug, but I believe even in the current system it should be reclassified Schedule I.

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