So what's a girl to do?  We have been told (and the research is strong) that dark alcohol -- red wine, dark beer, scotch -- can protect your heart. The magic chemical is resveratrol and it is the back bone of the French paradox. 

But now a study from the UK following almost 1.3 million women has a very different angle. The authors of this study found that even drinking in moderation (a drink a day or less) raises the risk of cancer. In particular, women who drank had a 13% increase in cancers of the breast, liver, rectum, and upper aerodigestive tract. And since it is assumed that women in the United States have similar drinking patterns, the alarms have been sounded.  These experts say that 5% of cancers among American women during midlife (ages 50-65) may be due to alcohol consumption. The concern here is that we are not talking about binge drinking or alcoholism. This is alcohol in small or moderate amounts.

So...is there a take home message? I think it's this: Everything you put in your body has an effect on you. If you have a family history of heart disease you may decide that a little red wine is good for you. And if you have a history of cancer in your family, you may decide that the occasional drink just isn't worth it. It's up to you...another study that requires all of us to know the facts and weigh the risks.