The Word of Wisdom
- stephenstrent7
- Aug 16
- 6 min read
Where Science Meets the Doctrine and Covenants, for the Come Follow Me lesson August 18-24; Doctrine and Covenants 89-92
Doctrine and Covenants 89:4 says, “Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation…”
I watched the television evening news on April 14, 1994, when seven evil, designing, conspiring tobacco company CEOs testified before the House Commerce Committee that they did not believe nicotine was addictive and that they had not targeted children in their marketing.
Doctrine and Covenants 89:5-7 states, “That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.”
For years, many in the health and nutrition community have advocated that one glass of wine per day was good for heart health. Now the warning is that no amount of alcohol is healthy.
According to The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, released January 6, 2025: “Alcohol use is very common—in 2019-2020, 72% of U.S. adults reported they consumed one or more drinks per week, but less than half of U.S. adults are aware of the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. The direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time. This body of scientific evidence demonstrates a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx). The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer. For certain cancers, like breast, mouth, and throat cancers, evidence shows that this risk may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day.”1
The data show that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption: less than one drink per week increases a woman’s risk of cancer by 16.5% and that of a man by 10.0%. There were 741,300 cancer cases worldwide attributable to alcohol consumption in 2020. Alcohol is responsible for approximately 75,000 new cancer cases and nearly 19,000 cancer-related deaths every year in the United States. “The surgeon general’s warning also calls attention to the growing prevalence of binge drinking, which amplifies these risks and poses additional public health challenges. Emerging evidence suggests that episodic heavy drinking not only exacerbates cancer risk but also has a disproportionate impact on young adults and marginalized communities, highlighting the urgency of addressing this public health issue.” However, in 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) convened a conference of experts from around the world, which found that stopping drinking can begin to lower your cancer risk.2
According to the Surgeon General report, “Alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde which damages DNA in multiple ways, causing an increased risk of cancer. Alcohol induces oxidative stress, increasing the risk of cancer by damaging DNA, proteins, and cells and increasing inflammation. Alcohol alters levels of multiple hormones, including estrogen, which can increase breast cancer risk. Alcohol leads to greater absorption of [other] carcinogens.”3
Doctrine and Covenants 89:8 says, “And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.”
“Surgeon general’s warnings are designed not only to share clear information with the public about health risks, but also to spur action, including policy efforts. They often become turning points in the health behaviors of the country, such as the 1964 surgeon general’s report on smoking, which changed the public perception of cigarettes.”4
In January 31, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published: About Surgeon General's Reports on Smoking and Tobacco Use, which stated, “The first report of the Surgeon General's Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health was released in 1964. It was a landmark first step to diminish the impact of tobacco use on the health of the American people. Over the course of more than 40 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health has been responsible for 35 reports on the health consequences of smoking.” The Surgeon General’s report of 2020 was the first such “…report on smoking cessation in 20 years, this report emphasizes that one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health is to quit smoking, regardless of their age or how long they have been smoking. This report also highlights the latest scientific evidence on the health benefits of quitting smoking, as well as proven treatments and strategies to help people successfully quit smoking.”5
Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 says, “And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.”
According to a 2016 blog post by Intermountain Health Care, “The World Health Organization recently reclassified hot beverages like tea and coffee, as a probable cancer trigger risk. They found that there were higher rates of esophageal cancer among people who drank extremely hot tea or coffee drinks, compared to those who consumed their drinks at significantly lower temperatures…Why would these beverages trigger cancer? Presumably because the hot temperatures scalds delicate tissues in the esophagus. This damage can trigger a more rapid turnover of cells which can lead to malignant growth.”6
Concerning caffeinated drinks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated, “The U.S. Surgeon General has not issued a specific, comprehensive report focusing solely on caffeine in hot drinks…For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day—that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee—as an amount not generally associated with negative effects. However, there is wide variation in both how sensitive people are to the effects of caffeine and how fast they eliminate it from the body…Certain conditions tend to make people more sensitive to caffeine’s effects, as can some medications. If you are concerned about a condition or medication, or if you’re pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, we recommend talking to your health care provider about whether you need to limit caffeine consumption.7…Medical experts advise against energy drinks for children and teens because of the levels of sugar and caffeine, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP].8…Too much caffeine in children and teens can cause increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and lead to sleep problems, digestive problems and dehydration…The Dietary Guidelines for Americans say that drinks containing caffeine should be avoided for children younger than age 2 and beverages that contain no added sugars should be the primary choice for children and teens. These include water and unsweetened fat-free or low-fat milk—including low-lactose or lactose-free options or fortified soy beverage—and 100% juice within recommended amounts.”9 However, for these last recommendations, you may want to watch the 2020 movie, Fat Fiction, written and directed by Jennifer Isenhart, IMDbPro productions.
Personally, I like to apply those AAP guidelines to myself, because I don’t need “…increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and lead to sleep problems, digestive problems and dehydration”, caused by excess sugar and caffeine.
Trent Dee Stephens, PhD
References
1. US Department of Health and Human Services hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/alcohol-cancer/index.html; see also Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory; and U.S. Surgeon General Issues Warning on Alcohol and Cancer: What It Means; January 6, 2025; Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center; cancer.columbia.edu/news/u-s-surgeon-general-issues-warning-alcohol-and-cancer-what-it-means
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
4. Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory; and U.S. Surgeon General Issues Warning on Alcohol and Cancer: What It Means; January 6, 2025; Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center; cancer.columbia.edu/news/u-s-surgeon-general-issues-warning-alcohol-and-cancer-what-it-means
5. Centers for Disease Control; cdc.gov/tobacco-surgeon-general-reports/about/index.html
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