There has been some debate over the past several years that one drink a day may actually be healthy. Let’s face it, alcohol is everywhere on our society. Even though drinking may be socially acceptable, there is proof that drinking even one drink a day can be hazardous to you. For those in recovery, drinking alcohol, even once, is detrimental to your physical and emotional well-being.

The argument of one drink per day being good for you can be very misleading. Health proponents theorize that one drink per day can decrease the risk of cardiovascular problems. However, this only applies to people who have never abused alcohol or drugs. Addiction experts agree that if you are in recovery, the risks of one drink a day far exceed any potential benefits.

Newer research has verified that alcohol, in general, is a carcinogen. This means that alcohol consumption, even moderately, increases the risk of many types of cancer. For example, recent studies found that prostate cancer risks are increased by 8% in men who drink 1 or 2 drinks every ten days. Imagine how much greater the risk is for someone who drinks everyday.

Alcohol increases the risks for several cancers including:

• Liver cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Throat cancer
• Prostate cancer

If you are in recovery, drinking alcohol even once can lead you back to active addiction. Once the line of addiction has been crossed, there really is no going back. Your body will crave the alcohol the same way it did when you were actively drinking and using.

Recovery is not necessarily a cure for addiction. Instead, recovery is a daily reprieve from an addictive lifestyle. Recovery is a choice that you have to make on a daily basis. Drinking even one drink will destroy what you have worked so hard to achieve. If you are looking to improve your health, don’t jeopardize your recovery to get healthy.

Instead, try doing the following:

• Exercise
• Healthy eating
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Have fun
• Talk to your doctor about better health

Try not to fall into the mindset of there being a way for you to drink responsibly. You don’t need alcohol to improve your health. At The Kimberly Center, we care about your physical and emotional health. The Kimberly Center can help you navigate recovery. Call us now at 855-4-KCENTER. We are committed to putting you and your recovery first. At the Kimberly Center, our clients are in trusted hands.