Does drinking alcohol weaken the immune system?

Most Americans recognize that drinking too much can lead to accidents and dependence. But that's only part of the story. In addition to these serious problems, alcohol abuse can damage organs, weaken the immune system, and contribute to cancers. Plus, much like smoking, alcohol affects different people differently. read more

Stomach issues can develop with excess alcohol and your immune system will not be able to fight them off. Drinking alcohol leads to increases stomach acid because your stomach must work harder to break the alcohol down. This acid can cause ulcers, liver problems (cirrhosis) and kidney disease. read more

Certain foods and environmental influences can keep the immune system army from doing a good job. Watch out for these threats to your body’s defenses. Overdosing on sugar. Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of about two cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. read more

Just one night of binge drinking affects the immune system, and it can happen within just 20 minutes of ingesting alcohol. The findings, published in the journal Alcohol last month, are the first to document the immediate effects of alcohol on the human immune system. TGIF! That binge drinking alters behavior is well known. read more