Timothy had always been health-conscious. After years of social drinking, she decided to quit alcohol for good. But giving up the ritual of sipping on a drink at social gatherings felt impossible. That's when alcohol-free beer and wine seemed like the perfect alternative—offering the taste and experience without the intoxication. However, what Sarah didn't realize was that these supposedly "harmless" drinks might still be affecting her liver in ways she hadn't anticipated.

With a global shift toward healthier choices, the rise of alcohol-free beverages has been fuelled. Do these drinks, however, live up to their promise of being risk-free? New research shows that while they may eliminate the dangers of intoxication, they still pose metabolic and liver-related risks, which calls for moderation in the long run.

What Happens in your Body within 10 Minutes of Drinking Alcohol-Free Beverages?

The first time you take a sip of an alcohol-free beverage, your body responds almost instantly. Anshul Singh, Lead Clinical Nutritionist and Dietetics Department says, "In as little as 10 minutes, your taste buds have picked up on the flavors, and your brain might even get a placebo effect, giving you the sensation that you're about to be drunk. Some alcohol-free drinks have up to 0.5% ABV, which goes into the bloodstream in minute quantities but will probably not affect you in any significant way."

By the 30-minute mark, your body has metabolized the sugars, artificial sweeteners, or additives in the drink. "Some people may experience a mild insulin spike, which can cause temporary energy boosts. Some non-alcoholic drinks also contain fermentation byproducts or botanical extracts that mimic the sedative effects of alcohol, causing slight drowsiness or relaxation," adds Anshul.

After 60 minutes, most of the drink has been metabolized. Although there is no risk of intoxication, repeated consumption can subtly affect metabolism, gut health, and even trigger cravings for alcohol among those in recovery. Those sensitive to sugar, caffeine, or preservatives might experience even more pronounced effects over time.

How Alcohol-Free Drinks Affect Your Gut and Liver Connection

Your liver and gut health are connected, forming what is called the gut-liver axis. Anshul emphasises, "Even though drinks without alcohol seem harmless, they usually contain sugars, artificial sweeteners, and fermentation byproducts that can disturb this delicate balance."

• High sugar content may lead to insulin resistance, inflammation, and fat accumulation in the liver.
• Artificial sweeteners may change the gut microbiota, causing metabolic imbalances.
• Preservatives and artificial flavors can also enhance gut permeability, thus potentially leading to leaky gut syndrome.

Long-term consumption of these drinks may gradually affect digestion, liver detoxification, and overall metabolic health, making moderation necessary.

Do Alcohol-Free Drinks Still Trigger Liver Enzymes?

Even though these nonalcoholic beverages contain virtually insignificant alcohol, the liver processes them as well. "These small concentrations of alcohol-which may go as high as 0.5% ABV-trigger the liver's detoxification pathways but only at much weaker intensities compared to ordinary alcoholic drinks. But the added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives in the products could pose significant pressure on liver functions over the long term," explains Anshul.

High sugar intake causes insulin resistance, which can lead to the buildup of fat in the liver and increase the risk of developing NAFLD. Some fermentation byproducts in these beverages also trigger oxidative stress, which puts extra pressure on the liver. Though occasional consumption will not pose a significant threat, regular consumption might lead to chronic liver stress and metabolic imbalance.

Do Non-Alcoholic Beverages Affect Liver Detoxification?

Although trace amounts of alcohol exist in alcohol-free beer and wine, the body will still have to metabolize them. The body employs the same enzymatic pathways used for alcoholic beverages but at a much lower intensity. However, the added sugars, preservatives, and fermentation byproducts present their own set of challenges:

• Mild inflammation to the liver due to the additives and byproducts within the drinks.
• Insulin resistance resulting from excessive sugar intake, causing fat accumulation in the liver.
• Detoxification pathways are overburdened, and impairment of liver function occurs gradually.

Alcohol-free drinks do not cause the liver to become overwhelmed as traditional alcohol does, although it does have a lower, but still important, risk for someone who is drinking too much. For someone with a problem of liver disease or metabolic syndrome, limiting alcohol-free drinks is also important.

Should You Drink Alcohol-Free Beverages?

Alcoholic beverages have always been a dangerous drink, but the safer option for those who want to avoid intoxication. However, it is not totally risk-free. Its impact on metabolism, gut health, and liver function cannot be ignored. Although they are not harmful at first, their consumption over a long period leads to insulin resistance, liver stress, and imbalance in the gut.

For the consumers who love these drinks, moderation is the way forward. The expert shares, "The choice of brands with the least additives, lower sugar, and natural ingredients will reduce risks. In addition, supplementing with a diet that is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and hydration can complement the liver in general."

For most, thought that adopting alcohol-free beverages was a healthier decision. On discovering their side effects on liver health, though, she learned to limit its intake and settle for alternatives that included infused sparkling water, herbal teas, or even kombucha with controlled sugar levels.

The bottom line? Alcohol-free doesn't mean consequence-free. The best way to achieve long-term health is by paying attention to what goes into the body and yet still enjoy social rituals of preference.

Anshul Singh is the Team Lead with the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Artemis Hospitals in India.

Rabies is most often associated with dog-mediated transmission in humans, but the virus can infect a wide range of mammals. In 2026, unusual cases involving farm goats, beavers and Cape fur seals raised fresh questions about how rabies moves between species.

Since July 2026, multiple US jurisdictions have reported human rabies exposures involving known rabies vectors or animals in which rabies is less commonly reported. The CDC issued a health advisory on September 10 “in response to recent reports of increases in human exposures to rabid or possibly rabid animals.”

The concern is not limited to North America. At least 176 people had been bitten by rabid Cape fur seals along South Africa’s coastline by the end of 2025, while researchers have warned that the disease could spread to other marine mammal species.

In North Carolina in 2026, a wild skunk entered a pen containing baby goats, some of which later tested positive for rabies. Of the 284 people evaluated by local health departments, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was recommended for 213. In Maryland, a 13-year-old boy was attacked by a beaver while swimming at a state park and required surgery for his injuries.

These cases raise a bigger question: Are unusual infections simply spillover from established rabies hosts, or can the virus establish sustained transmission in a new species? To understand this better, HealthandMe spoke to two experts.

Also read: US CDC Warns Of Rising Human Rabies Exposure Risk: How To Stay Safe

Are These New Rabies Hosts Or Spillover?

Dr Anish T S, Professor at the School of Public Health, Kerala University of Health Sciences, told HealthandMe that rabies can infect mammals, but an infected animal is not necessarily a reservoir host.

Genetic sequencing can help establish where an unusual infection came from and whether the virus is changing.

“So one thing that we can do is genetic analysis. If we are able to pick up these animals infected by rabies, we find what kind of rabies virus it is and do maybe a sequencing of the genome of this virus.”

“These kinds of analysis could be done still, but it is a question that whether this particular virus is changing its host or the virus is accumulating some kind of genetic mutations so that it can get maybe involved with some other animals. It can choose some other animals also as their host. It is actually a very pertinent question.”

The Cape fur seal cases add another dimension to this question, with sustained rabies transmission reported within the marine mammal population.

What Happens After Exposure?

Dr NK Ganguly, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told HealthandMe that rabies in goats is rare, while beaver exposures need particular caution.

“Beaver is one animal where we have to be very careful.”

Dr Anish said rabies can also present as paralytic or “dumb” rabies, which may not show classic signs and could lead people to handle or treat an infected animal without recognizing the risk.

Dr Ganguly stressed the need for prompt medical care after exposure.

“The rabies incubation period is around 10 days. So if somebody has been exposed, they should be immediately vaccinated. And if the exposure is with a bite or something at the upper limbs, then they need to be given an antiserum as well as vaccinated.”

“So depending on the exposure, you are given a vaccine which is available, and you are also given the cocktail of antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies, which act immediately.”

Why Wildlife And Livestock Surveillance Matters

Read More: Rabies Day Exclusive: ‘We Need To Target The Source’ For A Rabies-Free India By 2030, Says Veterinary Epidemiologist

Dr Ganguly said rabies can also circulate in wild and feral animals, including foxes, while cats and other species can also be infected.

He said surveillance should extend beyond dogs to domestic animals that are in close contact with them and to wildlife where feasible.

“Surveillance should include domestic animals also which are in close contact with the dogs.”

“There should be surveillance. There should be sentinel surveillance. We should carry out, if it is affordable.”

He also pointed to dog vaccination and sterilization, as well as bait vaccination for wildlife and stray animals.

Could The Virus Be Changing?

Dr Anish said unusual infections need investigation to determine whether they are isolated spillover events or linked to changes in the virus.

“The real issue is if the virus is changing much because of mutations. Because rabies virus is not that much notorious for mutations. That is why most of our vaccines are working.”

He said genetic studies could help answer whether existing vaccines and treatments would remain effective if significant mutations emerge.

“So the genetic studies of the virus may give us the answers to these questions.”

India’s Rabies Elimination Challenge

For India, the experts said the priority remains breaking established dog-mediated transmission chains before focusing on less common pathways.

“If you just look at the rabies situation in India, we are not even able to manage the pure dog-mediated rabies. That is, people are bitten by rabid dogs and people are getting infected, and we are not able to have maybe full coverage of vaccination, and all the other things are actually the biggest concern,” Dr Anish said.

Dr Ganguly added that surveillance should include domestic animals also which are in close contact with the dogs.

"But essentially, in the urban areas, the dog is the main animal, and we should—the Supreme Court has given now a lot of directions in this particular regard—that the dogs may be sterilized," the expert said.

The pet dogs need to be vaccinated and other stray dogs should be taken to facilities where they need to be sterilized and they need to be vaccinated, the experts said.

The current treatment course for high cholesterol is taking a daily tablet or regular injections over a long period. But instead, could a single treatment change the way high cholesterol is treated?

This possibility is being explored after a small first-in-human trial conducted by Cleveland Clinic found that one infusion of an experimental CRISPR gene-editing therapy lowered LDL, also called bad cholesterol, by about half and that the effect was still present a year later.

The treatment, called CTX310, is still experimental. The study involved just 15 people, so the findings are premature, not evidence that CRISPR can replace statins or other cholesterol medications.

About The Study

The Phase 1 trial included people with lipid disorders who had not responded adequately to existing medications.

Participants received a single infusion of CTX310, at different doses, and researchers followed them for 12 months.

At the highest dose, LDL cholesterol was reduced by 52.5% after one year, while triglycerides fell by 47.8%. The reductions seen earlier in the trial therefore persisted for at least 12 months.

Additionally, no serious adverse side effects related to the treatment were reported during the one-year follow-up. However, the researchers plan to continue monitoring participants for 15 years, as recommended for gene-editing therapies.

Also read: Inflammation May Be Quietly Changing Your Heart: Study Finds 43% Higher Risk Of Heart Attack & Stroke

How Does The CRISPR Treatment Work?

CTX310 operates differently compared to conventional cholesterol medicines. The treatment uses CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to target ANGPTL3, a gene involved in regulating fats circulating in the blood.

The therapy delivers the gene-editing machinery to the liver, where it switches off ANGPTL3. Lower activity of this gene can reduce levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

The idea is that instead of using daily medicines to keep cholesterol in check, doctors could make a long-lasting genetic change.

Also read: Preeclampsia May End With Pregnancy. Your Heart Risk May Not

What Does It Mean For Statins?

Statins remain a reliable treatment approach for lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk. CTX310 has only been tested in a very small Phase 1 trial. Also, the study was primarily designed to examine the safety and explore whether the gene-editing treatment could produce a meaningful effect.

The fact that LDL remained lower after one year is promising and encouraging, but researchers still need to determine whether the treatment can safely maintain its effects over many years and, crucially, whether it reduces heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.

There is also a fundamental difference between cholesterol tablets and permanently altering a person’s DNA.

Promising Cholesterol Treatment Approach

High cholesterol is often a long-term condition. Depending on their risk, patients may need cholesterol-lowering treatment for many years.

If CRISPR becomes a reality, people may no longer have to stick to a chronic treatment strategy for managing cholesterol.

"Building upon the initial data presented in November 2025, the durability of the lipid-lowering effect was impressive," said Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Luke Laffin, M.D., first author of the study. "It is encouraging that there were no serious safety events related to CTX310 in the trial and in the year following treatment. We look forward to continuing to investigate this therapy in a larger number of patients."

At 22, the young woman had little reason to think she would soon be facing a major cardiac surgery. Newly married and otherwise healthy, she suddenly lost movement in her right arm and leg. Her family was devastated and struggled to understand how a young, healthy woman could have suffered a stroke.

Investigations revealed an unusual cause: a tumour in her heart, with a small piece believed to have broken away and travelled into the blood vessels supplying her brain. She was advised to undergo immediate open-heart surgery to remove the tumour.

But the prospect of open-heart surgery frightened her. Despite repeated counselling, she refused the procedure. Two months later, she suffered a second stroke. This time, she lost much of her ability to speak and eat, while her heart function had also fallen to 35%. Once again, open-heart surgery was advised. Once again, she refused.

Her Condition Worsened As Treatment Was Delayed

Over the next three months, her condition continued to deteriorate. She weighed only 35 kg, was weak and withdrawn, and required feeding through a Ryle's tube. Her husband continued looking for another option.

A neighbour eventually suggested that the family consult a doctor in Kolkata who performed robotic heart surgery. The family approached Dr Soumya Guha, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, BM Birla Heart Hospital, initially through an online consultation, as the young woman was unwilling to visit a hospital.

This was an extremely high-risk case. She had already suffered two strokes, her heart function had come down to 35%, she was severely underweight at 35 kg and was physically very weak. The tumour was also large. Given her condition and the complexity of the surgery, I was initially reluctant to take up the case for robotic heart surgery. But the family was desperate, and we felt that if we could first improve her physical condition and prepare her psychologically, we could give her a chance. She needed to be built up before we could think of taking her safely through such a major procedure.

The team therefore spent time preparing her for surgery, working to improve her nutritional and physical condition while counselling her repeatedly to help her overcome her fear of surgery. Once she was considered ready, she was brought to Kolkata.

Also read: From 365 Shots To 52: How Could Lilly’s Newly-Approved Weekly Insulin Injection Change Diabetes Care

Two Tumours Found During Robotic Heart Surgery

The surgery presented another unexpected finding. What had been thought to be a single cardiac tumour turned out to be two tumours in the heart. Both were removed using robotic heart surgery.

Given her small body size, weakness and small blood vessels, the procedure required additional precautions during cardiopulmonary bypass. The team used artificial conduits to establish bypass and employed NIRS monitoring along with multiple filtration modes to support her during the procedure.

Rehabilitation Helps Her Regain Movement, Speech And Swallowing

Her recovery was also a major part of the treatment. Following surgery, she underwent extensive physical rehabilitation along with speech and swallowing therapy. Nursing, intensive care, physiotherapy, dietary support and ward care were all part of the recovery process, with the hospital administration also providing financial assistance to the family.

Today, the young woman is able to stand and walk on her own. She has begun speaking a few words and has progressed from Ryle's tube feeding to eating small amounts of mashed food.

For her family, the change has been remarkable: from watching a young woman suffer two strokes and gradually lose her ability to speak and eat, to seeing her prepare to return home on her own feet.

The surgery was only one part of this patient's journey. Given how weak she was, getting her through the operation safely was important, but helping her regain movement, speech and swallowing afterwards was equally important. This required the efforts of the surgical and anaesthesia teams, perfusionists, nursing staff, ICU and ward teams, physiotherapists, speech and swallowing rehabilitation and the dietician. The support from the hospital administration also made a difference to the family. Every one of these teams had a role to play in getting her to where she is today.