Tobacco, obesity and alcohol are three preventable causes of cancer.

Tobacco, obesity and alcohol are three preventable causes of cancer; together they needlessly result in millions of deaths each year globally.

Perhaps we should also add that they are the three leading preventable causes of cancer; each in its own right.

Every smoker knows about the high risk of cancer but most of us are far less aware that obesity and even small amounts of alcohol also come into the equation.

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The US Surgeon General has recently put the cat amongst the pigeons. He says that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States; 20,000 people annually^[1].

More disturbing is that even one glass of commercial wine per week increases the risk.

With 70% of Americans having at least one alcoholic beverage per week, that's a lot of people.

Types of alcohol

The direct link between all three common types of alcohol consumed and cancer is well-established; beer, wine and spirits.

In short we all at least need to be aware of the danger of alcohol consumption; and what we can possibly do to mitigate against it.

What is uncertain is where home-brews fit into the equation; here is a possible but unproven escape clause for those who are serious about their health yet are unwilling or unable to give up all alcohol.

First prize

First prize without a doubt is to give up all alcohol for ever; become teetotalers. With the best will in the world though that is not going to happen.

However let it be said that when the world realised just how dangerous tobacco was, smoking dropped from over half the population to currently less than 20%.

Without question doctors should at least be encouraging vulnerable people to keep alcohol for "high and holy days" only. Something to be enjoyed at important celebrations without guilt. One doubts that toasting the bride and groom with a glass of champagne would increase the risk of cancer. 

Health is additive

Wellness is additive; those who walk regularly, eat sensibly and get plenty of sleep are all good candidates for long and healthy lives.

But health is additive in the negative sense too. Those who smoke, are obese and drink alcohol regularly are at very high risk of getting cancer. These are the three leading preventable causes of death from a malignant tumour.

A miserable death

What we should remember too is that not only are tobacco, obesity and alcohol the three leading preventable causes of cancer, they also result in an untimely and miserable way of dying; a horrible death.

Home brewing

There are five places in the world where most folk live to strong and zestful nineties; and ten times as many reach one hundred. In four of them they drink quite large amounts of alcohol but it's not the sort you would normally buy at the bottle-store.

• Blue Zone longevity
• Introduction to brewing honey mead
  

The fifth is in Loma Linda where the Adventists shun all alcohol; that remains first prize.

Okinawa is also an interesting exception to the rule. Technically home brewing is apparently illegal but the common folk, usually unable to afford commercial alcohol make their own "awamori." Rice is fermented with a particular kind of yeast called koji; it produces large amounts of citric salts and various amino acids.

It is either then turned into "morimi" vinegar or distilled.

In Sardinia the people collect their wine in large demijohns; no added sulphite is used as a preservative and the grapes probably are not sprayed with noxious chemicals as in most commercial vineyards. This I have not been able to confirm categorically.

On the Greek island of Ikaria beekeeping flourishes and the people drink large amounts of natural meads as well as wines; neither pasteurised nor sterilized.

• Natural vs organic wine and mead
  

During the fermentation process the yeast cells do produce small amounts of sulphite naturally.

Is red wine a cancer risk?

For many years the indication has been that red wine in moderation might be good for one; notably because of resveratrol, an anti-oxidant^[4].

Overall research is convincing that even light drinking increases the risk of many types of cancer; and because that of the breast is so common, even a small threat would be very concerning.

More than two drinks a day is associated with a five-fold increase of cancer of the mouth, throat and oesophagus; and a rise of 61% of the breast.

Yet many researchers believe there is sufficient evidence that red wine may be the exception to the rule; to which I would add the fruity honey meads called melomels. Read more about the discussion at Medscape^[4].

Tobacco, obesity and alcohol are three preventable causes of cancer; no question of it.

Probiotics

Researchers are adamant that alcohol has a negative influence on the microbiome, increasing gut permeability and provoking systemic inflammation^[2].

Tantalizing is the research confirming that the polyphenols in red wines and fruity meads actually have a positive impact on the microbes in the gut. Furthermore, the large numbers of active live yeast cells contribute further to the friendly flora.

Because so few people consume natural wines, beers and meads there is no definitive research confirming that the negative influence of the alcohol is greater or less than the positive effect the yeast cells have on the microbiome; we must each follow our own guiding stars.

It goes without saying that excessive alcohol whether from commercial or natural drinks will cause cirrhosis of the liver; particularly in those also consuming typical grocery store food with large amounts of processed grains and sugar.

Fatty liver is a terminal condition caused by excessive refined carbohydrate consumption; large amounts of any alcohol will hasten the arrival of "that day."

A hypothesis

My own hypothesis is that if one's overall lifestyle is excellent then the body appears to be able to tolerate certain indulgences. The Blue Zone people have such a wonderful attitude and are active gardeners, growing much of their own food; perhaps commercial alcohol will not affect them to the same degree that it does to those who are inactive and consume typical grocery store ultra-processed meals.

The world's greatest pandemic

The world's greatest serious pandemic is not a Covid or Aids infection but a deficiency of vitamin D; inadequate exposure to sunlight^[3].

Blue Zone gardeners would be getting more than adequate sunshine, daily exercise and home-grown food. Tobacco, obesity and alcohol are three preventable causes of cancer; these lifestyle choices would mitigate against those factors.

Tobacco, obesity and alcohol are three preventable causes of cancer

Tobacco, obesity and alcohol are the three leading preventable causes of cancer. Their noxious influence may be mitigated against by lifestyle factors such as plenty of exercise, good food and adequate sunshine; and consumption only of natural alcohol that has not been preserved with added sulphite.

• How much alcohol causes cancer?
  

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