There are studies that explain how drinking alcohol in moderation can benefit us. For example, drinking a glass of wine every day with dinner may benefit your overall health, including reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
However, many people who drink alcohol do not drink it in moderation, and studies show that heavy drinkers (equivalent to 4 or more drinks per day and 8 or more drinks per week) increase their risk of contracting certain diseases, certain types of cancer and even brain damage.
Since there are far more negative risks associated with drinking alcohol than there are positive risks, reducing it or even eliminating it completely has far greater benefits for overall health and quality of life. These benefits include:
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Reduced risk of heart disease
In John Hopkins Medicine, it was claimed that drinking alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke, and there is even a condition called cardiomyopathy, which can literally weaken your heart.
But, of course, complications can increase if you don’t lead a healthy lifestyle, don’t get enough nutrients, and don’t exercise regularly. To reduce your risk of heart disease, the Top 10 Tips for a Healthy Heart offer positive lifestyle habits, including limiting alcohol intake, eating a healthy diet, and staying physically active.
Cancer risk reduction
Alcohol is carcinogenic. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) states that any type of alcohol, regardless of the amount consumed, can increase the risk of cancer of the esophagus, mouth and, in the case of women, breasts. Alcohol turns into acetaldehyde when we consume it, a chemical that damages our DNA. When our DNA is damaged, it prevents cells from repairing the damage. Be sure to include antioxidants in your diet, such as vitamins A, C, E, as they are linked to cancer prevention and can help repair cell damage.
extended life
CNN said more than 350 grams of alcohol per week can shorten a person’s life by 4-5 years, 200-350 grams per week can shorten it by 1-2 years, and drinking as little as 100 grams per week (7 glasses) .. can shorten someone’s life by 6 months. For us to live long and healthy lives, we need to maintain healthy lifestyles. To do this, eating foods rich in vitamins and nutrients, staying hydrated, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol consumption can help lengthen our lives.
Weightloss
Alcohol induces food cravings and slows metabolism. This will increase the amount of food you eat and accumulate extra calories. Not only that, but your liver starts using the alcohol for energy and any extra energy that hasn’t been burned gets stored as fat. Instead of drinking alcohol, you can try soaking in kombucha, which contains acetic acid to reduce hunger, bloating, and prevent your body from turning into fat. Kombucha also boosts your energy levels and reduces inflammation, especially after heavy drinking.
better memory
In the Alcohol Rehabilitation Guide, it is explained that alcohol slows down the signals that are sent from neuron to neuron. The hippocampus part of your brain is damaged, leading to short-term memory loss and loss of brain cells. As this continues, permanent damage can occur to your brain, making it difficult to retain new memories. If you’ve been drinking heavily and think your brain has suffered damage, here are some ways to improve your brain health. Some of these ways include exercise, which stimulates growth factors that help brain cells survive and stay healthy, and exploration, which stimulates the brain with new information.
Hydration
Compared to other fluids, alcohol removes fluids from your body at a faster rate. This is what causes dehydration and leads to a hangover, which has symptoms of weakness, vomiting, mood swings, and more. Not only that, but your muscles can become stiff or cramped, and your kidneys and liver can be damaged. Always stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. This article, Flushed Away: The Urinary System, explains the basic anatomy of the urinary system and why alcohol makes you go to the bathroom more often and how drinking water can help.
skin improvement
Since alcohol dehydrates your body, hormone levels and oxidative stress change, which can cause acne. Additionally, as Insider states, “dehydrates the skin and will make your wrinkles and pores more visible”. Inflammation can even occur, making your skin puffy! To allow our skin to heal, coconut oil and egg yolk are some examples of foods that balance hormones and decrease oxidative stress to give us back healthy and glowing skin.
Improved sleep quality
According to the Sleep Foundation, alcohol can disrupt the circadian rhythm, which helps us time our sleep and wake us up. When your circadian rhythm is affected, your REM sleep can also be affected, making it harder for your body to rest and relax. Try eating oatmeal or drinking chamomile tea to help you sleep off alcohol. Oatmeal is rich in melatonin, and chamomile tea reduces anxiety, which is often caused or increased by drinking alcohol.
better mental health
Alcohol consumption can contribute to mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and aggression. This is because it causes an imbalance in our brain chemicals. When we consume alcohol, more dopamine and serotonin are released, but as we continue to drink, dysregulation occurs, which worsens negative feelings when we are sober. Some ways to improve your mental health after drinking alcohol are to talk to someone, exercise, and take care of yourself. Talking to someone can help you release stress, exercising can help boost your energy, which can also improve your mood, and taking care of yourself can help you get to know yourself better and give you that feeling. what you need to be happy.
Better overall physical health
Reducing alcohol consumption can improve your immune system. This can notably improve your oral health, making you less prone to oral complications such as gum disease and oral cancer. Another way is that since alcohol actually weakens your immune system, you might be better protected against colds, flu, viruses, and infections.
Compared to how little benefit one alcoholic drink a day can bring to people, there are far too many negative side effects to outweigh. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause short-term negative effects that can later develop into long-term negative complications. The damage goes to your brain, heart, physical health, and mental health, making it difficult to live a longer, healthier life. Of course, not everyone can stop drinking alcohol right away, but cutting back and adopting healthy lifestyles is enough to improve everyone’s health!
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