Alcohol Does Not Protect Against Illness: Dietitian Debunks Common Myth

There is a widespread belief that alcoholics never get sick, but dietitian Alexander Burlakov refuted this in his Telegram channel.

“Excessive alcohol consumption does not have a protective effect and may be associated with a deterioration of overall health, which can increase susceptibility to infections,” Burlakov warned.

According to Burlakov, alcoholism is closely linked with higher frequency and severity of skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, and acne, as well as cancer. In addition, individuals with alcohol use disorders have a significantly increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, the expert concluded.

Choosing Least Harmful Alcohol

Any alcohol is damaging to the body, but not everyone is ready to eliminate it entirely. Dietitian Lohia notes that she does not insist on complete abstinence but advises patients on the least harmful options. She identifies gin and other distilled spirits as preferable choices.

“I do not recommend alcohol to anyone, but I always support reasonable choices. If you replace five beers with a single gin and tonic, that’s a good decision because it has fewer calories and does not cause bloating,” Lohia concluded.