Alcohol

Ethanol · not a nutrient you need

What does Alcohol do in your body?

Ethanol provides about 7 kcal per gram but no essential nutrients. The liver processes it first, at a fixed rate.

What does Alcohol do?

Acts on the brain as a depressant; converted by the liver to acetaldehyde (a carcinogen) and then acetate.

Where does Alcohol act in the body?

Brain, liver, stomach, heart.

Which foods contain Alcohol?

Beer, wine, spirits.

How much Alcohol do adults need?

Dietary Guidelines: if adults drink, limit to 2 drinks or fewer a day for men and 1 or fewer for women. Not recommended to start for health.

What happens with too little Alcohol?

Not a requirement.

Can you get too much Alcohol?

Raises risks of liver disease, several cancers, high blood pressure, injuries and dependence.

What does Alcohol interact with?

Interacts with many medications; reduces thiamin absorption.

What is known and unknown about Alcohol?

Alcoholic beverages are classified as carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1). Earlier 'moderate drinking is protective' findings are increasingly attributed to study biases.

Evidence & sources

• Alcoholic beverages are classified as carcinogenic to humans. Evidence: established. Known: IARC Group 1, sufficient evidence for cancers including mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast. Unknown: Risk at very low intake is small and debated. Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO), IARC Monographs Volume 100E (2012).

Connected topics

• Liver
• Brain
• Thiamin (B1)
• Hazard ≠ Risk
• Correlation ≠ Causation
• Sleep & Recovery

Try it in your browser

General education only, not medical advice. Drafted Oct 2026 · pending qualified expert review.