The Dutch health council is recommending that people abstain from alcohol altogether or drink no more than one glass per day.

Previously women are advised to drink no more than one glass and men two on a daily basis.

The council has published new recommendations on ensuring a healthy diet and says more than one alcoholic drink raises the risk of strokes and various forms of cancer. The health benefits of drinking wine, for example, do not outweigh the negatives, the council says.

The Dutch should also eat more pulses such as lentils and chick peas which have been shown to reduce cholesterol and risk of heart disease, the council says.

At the same time, the council recommends an increase in the consumption of fruit, vegetables, brown bread and nuts, but less meat and soft drinks, including fruit juice.

Guidelines

The new guidelines are now being translated into formal recommendations by the national dietary centre Voedingscentrum which will be published next year.

The current recommended Dutch diet dates from 1981 and is based on the five main food groups, known as the ‘schijf van vijf’.

Many experts consider the current recommendations to be out-of-date. For example, according to the website, a 30-year-old woman should eat six slices of bread and drink almost half a litre of milk a day.