Imagine a health-conscious woman shopping for organic foods. But then, she stops through the liquor section for wine, some beer, maybe some whiskey and—if recent research is considered—a substantive contribution to her chances of getting breast cancer.

In a recent health class here at Straight Chiropractic, we discussed “Suicide by lifestyle choices.” Simply put, while we live in times with many amazing approaches to treating illness, the best “treatment” is always prevention. That’s why I try to give my patients the tools they need to live healthfully with the support of chiropractic care and toward our goal of wellness.

While there are no guarantees in life, those who consistently embrace healthful ways seem to reap the rewards well into their advanced years through improved health, mobility and freedom from the need for drastic interventions, such as surgeries. That is why healing chiropractic is important. If begun soon enough, it can prevent illness; if begun later, it begins healing. But also important is the decision by each individual to make the lifestyle decisions—diet, nutrition, exercise, avoiding toxins—consistently throughout life that protect the human body from harm or illness and that support healing.

The decision to smoke is a “suicide by lifestyle” choice. The decision to drive while intoxicated is another. The decision to take drugs recreationally is one, as is the decision to chronically overeat or to consume large amounts of sugar so that the patient becomes obese or has diabetes. And now, that glass of wine with dinner—long recommended by some doctors of Western medicine as “good for the heart” but long cautioned against by many chiropractors—must be added to the list.

The growing body of evidence against alcohol for women is stunning. One study of over 10,000 women for 27 years showed that the amount of alcohol a woman consumed correlated with her risk of breast cancer decades later. Just two to three drinks a day can boost the breast cancer risk by a whopping 30 to 40 percent, reported Jo Ann Manson, chief of preventative medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

But even one glass of alcohol resulted in a 10 percent risk increase—a lifestyle choice, from my view, that is far too high a price to pay for a few moments culinary enjoyment.

Dr. Fackrell owns Rio Rancho’s Straight Chiropractic. The public is welcome at his health workshops. Call 891-2280 for a complimentary reservation.