Dear Siddharth
That’s a good question, though I consider my own opinion as disposable as anyone elses!
But here goes: you hit the nail/crux of this question, right on the head – ‘the new found warnings.‘
There will always be new ‘advice.’ My YouTube feed is littered with ‘influencers’ (medical doctors included) with millions of followers who like to pronounce three essentials for the over 50’s – then 6 months later make some more money with why I stopped doing this… ie the reverse of their previous advice. Like you, as a scientist at heart, I understand that theories come and go, and the only real ‘truth’ is a theory that stands the test of time.
My own philosophy – if that’s not aggrandising it too much – is for some kind of balance.
1. I don’t drink every day – but maybe 4 days a week – not including tasting/spitting – but unless a wine is unbelievably good, rarely more than 2 modest pours. It’s years since I drank a whole bottle, or more, at some kind of event. I suppose ‘less wine but better wine’ fits – and I don’t drink any other alcohols, with the exception of 1 or 2 gin and tonics per year.
2. I try to eat a balanced diet. I love meat, but my better half is a convert to vegetarian(ism) – so I’m not a daily meat eater – and she prefers to make things from basic ingredients rather than to buy them ‘processed.’
3. I try to exercise. Not just because I enjoy it but also for the advantages it brings me – I now call it part of my drug regime! For many years before I was diagnosed diabetic (13 years ago, inherited from my father) I used to joke that 10 miles was equivalent to a 6-course menu ‘gourmand’ – if I did one, I could do the other without problems. Now, like you, I’m a GLP-1 user – and for many years now. Not just that, three other molecules are ingested each day to try to control my Type 2. For years, the next new molecule would work beautifully for me, only for me to build tolerance over 6-9 months and then lose the efficacy. The addition of a GLP-1 was, and still is, the only time where my prescription has remained stable – now for more than 6 years – but the house of cards falls if I run less than 35km a week – more than 35 and I’m in balance…
So, returning to your original question. I ignore the ‘new found warnings.’ I consider a little, and often, to be healthier than the bipolar approach of ‘Dry January,’ or whatever, then returning to a ‘too high’ regular intake. Here semantics are involved: The temperance-minded people will tell you that there is zero safe dose of alcohol.
The essential thing is that I feel good, despite, or in spite, of my various ingestions of drugs, and alcohol. Because of diabetes, I have regular blood-works, and they are fine too. Despite hailing from the great burgundy vintage of 1962, I can also beat the majority 30-year-olds over 10km, and 99.99% of people over a 20-mile mountain course. So my ‘philosophy’ works for me, for now. I can’t ask for more – and never forget, ‘advice’ always changes… 😉
Bill