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Updated: November 29, 2011 10:23AM

Q. The holidays are a big deal in my family. There are many get-togethers. It’s fun, but by New Year’s Day, I’m whipped. This year, my daughter is having a Christmas wedding! I’m already flat out of energy. Will energy drinks help?

A. Most of the boost in energy drinks comes from two things — sugar and caffeine — and the effect is short-term. Then it lets you down. Overloading on caffeine also could backfire big-time for you by throwing your nightly sleep to the wind.

We’d suggest something entirely different: Ribose. It’s actually a sugar, but a completely different kind. Ribose is made in your body, where it’s used to build key energy molecules, but you also can get it as a supplement. The most convincing evidence for ribose’s ability to infuse energy is that taking a daily dose gives a real boost to people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome — diseases characterized by exhaustion. The only side effect is that some people feel too much energy.

To give it a try, start with 500 mg three times a day for a week, mixed into a smoothie or tea; it has a somewhat sweet taste. Then go to 5 grams three times a day for three weeks, which should get you to the far side of New Year’s Day. If you still need a short-term lift while you get things back to normal, scale back to 5 grams twice a day. After that, get some rest!

Q. There’s no breast cancer in my family. I’m not a big drinker, but I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner three or four times a week. Does that make me more likely to get breast cancer?

A. The answer depends on whether you have any family history of (A) breast cancer or (B) heart disease/stroke. You see, alcohol protects your vascular system (think heart attacks and strokes) but inhibits your immune system (think cancer and infections). If there’s any history of either in your family, we would lean toward continuing to enjoy your glass of wine. There’s clear evidence that for women (men, too), having no more than one drink a day (no more than two for men) is heart- and brain-protective. Since there’s no breast cancer in your family, those benefits outweigh your breast cancer risks, because cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women.

But if there aren’t any heart attacks or strokes in your family history, things shift. Some impressive new research has linked even light drinking, like yours — three to six drinks a week — to a modest increase in breast cancer risk compared with women who don’t drink at all. (Heavier drinking — two drinks a day — sharply increases the risk.) Assuming there’s no vascular disease in your family and weighing the “peace of mind” factor, we’d suggest half a glass on most nights. That takes you out of the modest-risk group, gives you heart and stroke protection and lets you enjoy some vino.

Next time you pour a glass of wine, get out your kitchen measuring cup. A “glass” equals 5 ounces. You may be surprised by what that looks like!

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