Do: Pour wisely.
The first directive most doctors will give you about drinking is to do it in moderation. Research shows that women should consume no more than one drink per day—any more could increase the risk of liver damage and some types of cancer. (A 2011 study found that regularly consuming three to six drinks per week upped a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 15 percent.) But what qualifies as one drink depends on what you're drinking—it's 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces (one shot glass) of liquor. And steer clear of tumblers: A study in BMJ found that most people tended to overpour when using short, wide glasses; they gave themselves 20 to 30 percent less alcohol when using taller glasses.
From the
August 2013 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
