In Friday’s NY Post newspaper there was a report on the link between drinking alchohol and increased risk of breast cancer. No doubt this report will travel around like a bad cold at a preschool so I’m here to give you some information to balance the reporter’s lack of it.
According to Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan of the American Council on Science and Health, although some studies have shown a very small increase in risk with alchohol consumption it compares to not having a full term pregnancy, or having a first baby after age 35. All increase a woman’s risk by 20-30%.
You may have heard that the risk is comparable to that of smoking. In fact, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day increases risk of lung cancer by 1,000% over a non-smoker.
Perhaps the most important bit of information left out by this Post article, according to Whelan, is this “It has been demonstrated beyond doubt that taking the B-vitamin folic acid (about twice the usual recommended dose) literally wipes out whatever small risk of breast cancer alcohol consumption might pose.”

One of the bottom line texts on cancer epidimiology, says that high intake of folic acid and high plasma levels of folate appears to mitigate the excess risk of breast cancer associated with alcohol intake. Others concur.
Bottom line? If you do drink do so responsibly and moderately and take your folic acid supplements.
Don’t forget that alcohol is cardio protective in older adults.
Why does the media love to scare people and or how do they get away with not doing the work required to present the whole picture. But I shouldn’t complain. If they did that I’d be out of business.
A Votre sante!