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.

Norovirus appears to be increasing after a 57 percent jump in hospital admissions linked to the sickness bug last week. Figures from the NHS show that an average of 567 hospital beds were occupied each day by patients suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. Although this number remains well below last winter’s peak, the sudden rise over just one week has raised concerns that norovirus infections could soon climb further.

Experts believe the return of children to school and more indoor contact following the Christmas break may be helping the virus spread.

Why Does Norovirus Spread So Easily?

Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy at Chemist4U, as per The Mirror, said the virus is often underestimated. “Norovirus spreads far more easily than people realise. Even a very small amount can make you ill, and it can stay on surfaces for several days. As cases continue to climb, it’s important to move beyond basic hygiene and take more focused steps to protect yourself and others. Many people think norovirus is a short-lived illness, but it’s very persistent and passes on easily.”

Murphy added that pharmacists tend to approach norovirus from two angles. “We focus on stopping it from spreading and on helping the body cope while the infection passes. There’s no treatment that kills the virus itself, but there are ways to ease symptoms and lower the risk of problems like dehydration.”

Advice To Prevent The Spread Of Norovirus

Treat it as a hard-to-kill infection – Norovirus is classed as a non-enveloped virus, which means alcohol hand gels and many everyday cleaners do not work against it. Washing hands with soap and warm water removes the virus physically, while bleach can neutralise it on surfaces.

Use the right cleaning products – Choose disinfectants that clearly state they are virucidal or effective against non-enveloped viruses. If this is not mentioned, the product is unlikely to kill norovirus.

Get bleach dilution right – Bleach needs to be mixed correctly. If it is too diluted, it will not kill the virus. If it is too strong, it can irritate the skin and lungs. Always ventilate the room well and follow the instructions on the label.

Treat vomiting as contamination – In healthcare settings, vomiting is handled as a form of airborne exposure. Clean beyond the visible mess, air out the space properly, and assume nearby soft furnishings may also be contaminated.

Create isolation at home – If possible, give the unwell person their own bathroom, towels, and bin. This mirrors hospital infection control measures and helps limit the spread to others.

How To Ease Norovirus Symptoms?

Focus on rehydration – Dehydration is the most serious risk linked to norovirus. Electrolyte drinks are more effective than water alone because they replace lost salts as well as fluids.

Take fluids slowly – Sip small amounts every five to ten minutes instead of drinking large volumes at once. This helps reduce vomiting and allows the body to absorb fluids better.

Pain relief – Once fluids are staying down, paracetamol is the safest option for fever, headaches, and muscle aches. Ibuprofen should be avoided if you are dehydrated or vomiting frequently, as it can irritate the stomach and strain the kidneys.

Be careful with anti-diarrhoea medicines – Drugs such as loperamide can slow diarrhoea, but this is not always advised because diarrhoea helps flush the virus out. These medicines may be used briefly in specific situations, such as essential travel, but should not be given to children or used if there is a fever or blood in the stool.

Help with nausea – For severe sickness, a pharmacist can recommend anti-nausea treatments. If vomiting continues, a GP may prescribe medication to help control symptoms so fluids can be kept down.

Eat gently when ready – Once your appetite comes back, start with plain foods like toast, crackers, bananas, or rice. Avoid rich, spicy, or dairy-heavy foods until you feel better.

Rest as part of recovery – The immune system clears norovirus on its own. Getting enough rest supports recovery and helps prevent further complications.

The takeaway coffee cup in your hand may be releasing a sea of microplastics into your body every time you take a sip, a new study reveals.

Microplastics are essentially fragments of plastic that are between 1 nanometer and 5 millimetres wide and can found in water, soil and the air. Experts estimate that about 2.7 million tonnes of microplastics seeped into the environment in 2020, an estimate expected to double by 2040.

These fragments carry toxic chemicals and can disrupt internal biological processes, leading to inflammation, cell death, organ dysfunction, heart attacks and reproductive issues in humans. Scientists have also found links between microplastics and cancer.

While researchers have long claimed that microplastics can enter the human body through contaminated food and water, a new Australian study suggests it can also enter through hot coffee cups.

Why Are Plastic Coffee Cups Dangerous?

Xiangyu Liu, study co-author and research fellow at School of Environment and Science and Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, said this was due to heat.

The team conducted a a meta-analysis on existing research and analyzed data from 30 peer-reviewed studies. During this time, they focused on how common plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene behave under different conditions, primarily temperature.

As the temperature of the liquid inside a container increased they noticed that the release of microplastics generally increases too. In the studies reviewed, reported releases ranged from a few hundred particles to more than 8 million particles per litre, depending on the material and study design.

Interestingly, 'soaking time' or the amount of time the drink sits in the cup was not a consistent driver, suggesting that leaving a hot drink in a plastic cup for a long time is not as important as the initial temperature of the liquid when it first hits the plastic.

After testing nearly 400 different cups, they found that if someone drinks '300 millilitres of coffee in a cup made of polyethylene per day, they could ingest 363,000 pieces of microplastic particles every year', according to Liu

What Can Be Done To Reduce Risks?

The team recommends using a reusable cup made of stainless steel, ceramic, or glass, as these materials do not shed microplastics for hot drinks. If you must use a disposable cup, its is better to drink out of a plastic-lined paper cup as they shed fewer particles than pure plastic cups, though neither is microplastic free.

They also advise not pouring putting boiling liquids directly into plastic-lined containers. Telling the barista to make your morning coffee slightly cooler before it hits the cup can reduce the physical stress on the plastic lining and lower overall exposure.

A dangerous, drug-resistant fungus has infected more than 7,000 people across 27 US states, including Mississippi, in 2025, federal health data shows. The infection, known as Candida auris, is classified as an “emerging infectious disease,” after doctors and public health experts noted a steady rise in cases since 2019, according to specialists at the Cleveland Clinic.

As of December 20, Mississippi had reported 108 cases of the fungal infection, based on figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here is what you need to know about Candida auris cases in Mississippi.

What Is Candida Auris?

Treating it is challenging because the organism can adapt to medications meant to eliminate it, health experts note. C. auris mainly affects people with serious underlying health problems and those using invasive medical devices such as ventilators, feeding tubes, or catheters, according to the CDC.

The fungus spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects and can remain on a person’s skin or other body areas even when no symptoms are present. Experts say healthcare workers and visitors are not considered at risk of becoming infected.

Candida Auris: What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms of Candida auris are not always noticeable, but when they do appear, they may include the following, according to the Cleveland Clinic:

• Ear infections
• Wound infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Blood infections that spread throughout the body

Candida Auris: How Can It Be Prevented?

• Regular hand hygiene using alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Isolating patients who test positive for C. auris
• Frequent and thorough cleaning of patient rooms
• Using gloves and gowns while providing care
• Ensuring visitors clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer

Which US States Have Reported Cases Of Candida Auris?

According to CDC data as of December 20, cases have been reported in the following states:

• Pennsylvania
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Wisconsin
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Tennessee
• Louisiana
• Texas
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Montana
• Nevada
• Utah
• Wyoming
• California
• Oregon

Drug Resistance For Candida Auris Grows

Candida auris, often referred to as a “superbug fungus,” is continuing to spread worldwide and is becoming increasingly resistant to both antifungal drugs and the human immune response, researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation said in a review published in early December.

The findings support earlier CDC warnings that labeled C. auris an “urgent antimicrobial threat,” making it the first fungal pathogen to receive that classification, as case numbers have climbed sharply in the United States, especially in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

The review, published in the journal Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, explains why the fungus is so difficult to control and highlights how outdated testing methods and limited treatment options have failed to keep pace. The research was led by Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of Hackensack Meridian CDI in New Jersey, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary from the University of Delhi’s Medical Mycology Unit, and Dr. Michail Lionakis, head of the clinical mycology program at the National Institutes of Health.

In their statement, reported by Fox News, the researchers emphasized the urgent need to develop new antifungal drugs with broad effectiveness, improve diagnostic tools, and explore immune-based and vaccine-related treatments to better protect high-risk patients.