Increasing the pace of aging through alcohol consumption (identifying beverages with the most detrimental effects)
Let's Chat About Booze: Is It a Friend or Foe?
These days, it seems everyone wants to hold onto their youth for as long as possible.
But if you're taking care of your body by exercising, eating right, and popping those anti-aging pills, your drinking habits could be undermining all your efforts...
A group of smart cookies analyzed DNA methylation levels in blood samples of participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. The bunch also looked at participants' alcohol consumption and methylation data from examination years 15 and 20. DNA methylation is a chemical modification that can twist gene expression.
They wanted to see if alcohol consumption affected epigenetic aging, tracking four measures:
- Intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration, tied to cell-intrinsic aging,
- Extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration, connected with immunological aging,
- PhenoAge acceleration, related to comorbidities and physical function,
- GrimAge acceleration, linked to lifespan and risk of mortality by examining positions on the DNA where methyl groups change with age.
The investigators came up with some interesting findings. They discovered a link between consuming liquor, total alcohol, and binge drinking, all three speeding up GrimAge acceleration. One round of heavy drinking accelerates aging by about 1.38 years.
And surprise, surprise – the effects were age-dependent. Younger folk aged faster than the old-timers when it came to beer and total alcohol consumption.
Now, beer and wine? They were basically off the hook, scant associations with GrimAge acceleration.
"Our study offers novel insights into alcohol's impact on biological aging, suggesting that hard liquor could be particularly detrimental," affirms Dr. Drew Nannini, a postdoc at Northwestern University and the study's lead researcher.
So, What's the Deal With Beer and Wine?
Since the study highlights hard liquor as the main troublemaker, if you still prefer to get tipsy now and then, perhaps stick to light beers or glasses of wine. Or, on second thought, maybe opt for one of those slew of non-alcoholic beer and wine options popping up in stores. They offer the same boozy taste without the consequences.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that, if you do choose to drink, do so in moderation: one drink or less daily for the ladies, two drinks or less for the gents.
By the way, did you know that shifting your body from acid to alkaline can energize you, help you shed pounds, ease digestion, ward off diseases, and tip the scales towards vitality? Learn more about The Alkaline Secret to Ultimate Vitality and revamp your life today!
Further Reading:
- Alcohol consumption and biological aging: A review - PubMed Central (PMC)
- Alcohol consumption accelerates epigenetic aging in young adults - ScienceDirect
- Methylation - National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
The skinny on spirits: The study didn't reveal a direct link between chronic alcohol consumption and biological aging via DNA methylation levels. However, it did find that excessive drinking, particularly hard liquor, speeds up GrimAge acceleration. Cheers to swapping hooch for juice!
- If you're striving for wellness and anti-aging, the study suggests that your drinking habits could be a concern, as consuming hard liquor, total alcohol, and binge drinking may speed up epigenetic aging, particularly GrimAge acceleration.
- For those who enjoy a tipple but are conscious about their health-and-wellness, the research indicates that light beers or glasses of wine might be a better choice, as they were found to have scant associations with GrimAge acceleration compared to hard liquor.
- The science behind DNA methylation reveals that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to faster aging, but non-alcoholic beer and wine options are now available for those who want to maintain a healthier lifestyle without sacrificing taste or the occasional experience of indulgence.
){kind=link}