Aliquot #59: How alcohol affects sleep, behavior, and cancer risk
Aliquot #59: How alcohol affects sleep, behavior, and cancer risk
While some research suggests drinking alcohol improves health, an abundance of evidence indicates that drinking alcohol also harms health. Particularly, higher alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of many cancers. Some of the deleterious effects of drinking may be due to alcohol's effects on sleep. Although alcohol may help us feel calm and ready to sleep, it has surprising effects on REM sleep and maybe our waking behaviors too. In this Aliquot, Dr. Matthew Walker, Tim Ferriss, and I discuss some of the risks and surprising effects of alcohol on human health and behavior.
Get these episodes in a convenient podcast format.
Aliquot episodes make great companion listening for a long drive. You can find these special members-only episodes alongside live recorded Q&As on The Aliquot, our official premium FoundMyFitness podcast.
While some research suggests drinking alcohol improves health, an abundance of evidence indicates that drinking alcohol also harms health. Particularly, higher alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of many cancers. Some of the deleterious effects of drinking may be due to alcohol's effects on sleep. Although alcohol may help us feel calm and ready to sleep, it has surprising effects on REM sleep and maybe our waking behaviors too. In this Aliquot, Dr. Matthew Walker, Tim Ferriss, and I discuss some of the risks and surprising effects of alcohol on human health and behavior.
-
Introduction
-
Multiple drinks per day increases the risk of many cancers (Member Q&A segments)
-
Moderate alcohol consumption reduces cognitive impairment risk, heavy drinking increases it
-
Mild alcohol intake increases the likelihood of living to 90 and improves insulin sensitivity
-
Alcohol dampens autoimmunity, but increases infection risk
-
Take-home messages about breast cancer
-
Alcohol and four other factors that reduce sleep quality (Matthew Walker segments)
-
Alcohol is a sedative, but reduces sleep continuity and suppresses REM sleep
Get email updates with the latest curated healthspan research
Support our work
Every other week premium members receive a special edition newsletter that summarizes all of the latest healthspan research.
Recent Aliquot Episodes
Aliquot #148: The Hype and Reality of Nicotinamide Riboside
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, is in every cell of your body and plays a central role in energy metabolism, mitochondrial...
Aliquot #147: How to Break the Visceral Fat Cycle
Visceral fat is a highly metabolically active form of fat that accumulates deep within the...
Aliquot #146: When Is the Best Time to Exercise?
When is the best time to exercise? It depends on your goal. Because your body...
Aliquot #145: How to Protect Immune Function With Age
As we age, the immune system slows, loses precision, and low-grade inflammation rises. These changes...
Aliquot #144: How to Slow Joint Degeneration
Joint degeneration is often blamed on aging, but most decline is driven by two modifiable forces: mechanical load and...