What's the Link Between Beer and Cancer? Read This and You'll Quit Alcohol Immediately

Many people who do not define themselves as alcohol consumers allow themselves to drink beer frequently—often with a 'light' attitude that beer is not like other alcoholic beverages and that the harm it causes the body is less severe than that of other strong drinks like arak or vodka.

However, they are seriously mistaken, as recent research by the American Society of Clinical Oncology proves it 'big time.'

Alcohol consumption in all its forms is responsible for 3% of cancer cases in the UK—translated into numbers, that's nearly 12,000 cases per year. This research and other studies published on the UK Cancer Research site indicate that consuming alcoholic beverages increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer—even if you're not classified as a 'heavy' drinker.

According to the researchers, total avoidance of alcohol can prevent and distance you from seven types of cancer, including esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, breast, colon, and liver.

Types of cancer caused by alcohol consumption

So what's the connection to beer?

Because many people tend to underestimate its harm level, they consume it more often—significantly increasing (by five times, to be exact) the risk of developing cancer. Research conducted by the British Cancer Research Center examined the relationship between the amount of alcohol entering the body at a given time and the risk of developing cancer. It found that it doesn't matter if the alcohol is consumed all at once or gradually, a little at a time. "When it comes to cancer, there is no 'safe limit.' It's better to just avoid it and not take risks," they write.

The researchers suspect that the carcinogenic substance is a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is produced due to ethanol found in all alcoholic drinks. Acetaldehyde causes liver cells to grow faster than usual, preventing the cells from renewing themselves and repairing this damage. Long-term liver damage can develop into a disease called cirrhosis, from which the transition to liver cancer is short.