Fed: Don't overindulge over Christmas, doctors warn

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2007
Fed: Don't overindulge over Christmas, doctors warn

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CANBERRA, Dec 24 AAP - Doctors are urging Christmas revellers to drink only moderate
amounts of alcohol and avoid overdosing on fruit cake and candy canes.

The Australia Medical Association said many Australians associated heavy drinking with
the festive season, but urged people to have a good time without putting their health
at risk.

"Excess alcohol consumption is responsible for billions of dollars worth of illness
and tragedy in Australia each year," AMA president Dr Rosanna Capolingua said.

"Alcohol abuse is the cause of many chronic health problems including cardiovascular
disease, obesity, liver disease, and brain damage, and can lead to serious health risks
such as acute alcohol poisoning.

"In addition to what it's doing to your body, excessive drinking can be the cause of
all kinds of accidents, and no one wants to spend any time in a hospital emergency department."

Australians have also been warned that fruit cake, cranberry sauce, candy canes and
other Christmas foods are high in sugar and can be big contributors to tooth decay.

Hunter New England oral health clinical director Dr Lanny Chor said people not only
ate more sugar but ate it more frequently during the Christmas period.

"Frequency is as bad as quantity because the constant sugar levels stop saliva from
doing its job, which is keeping the right pH levels in the mouth," Dr Chor said.

"One of the problems with the Christmas cake, chocolate-coated peanuts, candy canes,
glace cherries and champagne is that there is often a continual period of eating between
Christmas and New Year, exposing teeth to continuous acid attacks."

Recent World Health Organisation data showed Australians eat an average 63 kilograms
of sugar each year - more than a kilogram a week.

"Over the Christmas period, eat sensibly, brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste,
especially before sleeping, and invest in looking after your teeth for the long term,"

Dr Chor said.

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