Most Replayed Moment: Is There A Safe Amount Of Alcohol? What Happens To The Body When You Drink! - The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett Recap
Podcast: The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
Published: 2026-02-06
Duration: 24 minutes
Guests: Sarah Wakeman
Summary
Drinking alcohol, even at low levels, poses health risks, including an increased risk of various cancers. The episode challenges old beliefs about alcohol's health benefits, emphasizing that there is no genuinely safe amount of alcohol consumption.
What Happened
The episode features Sarah Wakeman, a physician specializing in addiction treatment, who unpacks the historical journey of alcohol in society. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of beer-making from 13,000 years ago, showing that alcohol has been used for social and spiritual reasons rather than health benefits.
Wakeman explains the flawed studies that contributed to the belief that moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial. These studies often included non-drinkers with existing health issues, skewing results in favor of moderate drinkers.
She clarifies that while moderate drinking has been associated with some health benefits, these disappear when comparing light drinkers to very infrequent drinkers. The risks include an increased chance of developing various cancers, particularly breast and esophageal cancer, even at low consumption levels.
Wakeman discusses the misconceptions about alcohol consumption, emphasizing that no level of drinking is beneficial for health, likening it to eating dessert or bacon. Understanding the risks allows individuals to make informed choices about alcohol use.
The episode delves into the impacts of alcohol on the body, including the liver, which can regenerate but only up to a point before irreversible damage occurs. Wakeman describes the alarming trend of younger people developing severe liver conditions due to alcohol.
Alcohol also affects the brain, causing it to shrink over time with heavy use, leading to conditions similar to dementia. Wakeman underscores the underestimated effects of alcohol on various body parts, including the heart and digestive system, contributing to diseases like cancer and heart conditions.
Key Insights
- Archaeological evidence indicates that beer-making dates back 13,000 years, highlighting alcohol's long-standing role in social and spiritual activities rather than health purposes.
- Studies suggesting moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial often included non-drinkers with pre-existing health issues, skewing results to favor moderate drinkers.
- Even low levels of alcohol consumption increase the risk of developing cancers, such as breast and esophageal cancer, negating any perceived health benefits of moderate drinking.
- Excessive alcohol use leads to brain shrinkage over time, contributing to conditions similar to dementia, and affects the heart and digestive system, increasing the risk of diseases like cancer and heart conditions.