Its that time of year…

You know what I'm talking about, right?  The beginning of the year when many people decide it’s time to take control of the holiday drinking, that was held over from the backyard summer drinking, that was hanging on from the last ski season drinking.  The year is full of fun reasons to indulge in a cocktail or three.  There are many reasons that people to decide to stop completely, take a break, or just cut back.  Regardless of the route taken, it’s important to pay attention to the effects that alcohol has on the body.  Anyone who has chosen to step away from the daily glass or the weekend bash can attest to the benefits of giving the body a rest!

“Dry January” provides a chance to see the positive health effects that a detox from alcohol offers your body. When you drink alcohol, the body very quickly has to shift its focus and attention solely to breaking down and removing the alcohol from your system. The body first breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde (a very toxic substance and a known carcinogen), then acetate, and then finally water and carbon dioxide. At this point, the body can eliminate the by-products of what was once alcohol.

So, not only do the toxins from alcohol impact your body, but drinking alcohol also pauses other functions of your body, which can have negative effects.

Immune System Suppression

When one drinks heavily, it reduces the body’s natural immune system, meaning the body isn’t as strong at protecting against viruses and germs.

This occurs because alcohol triggers inflammation in the gut while also destroying the beneficial microbes that reside there.

Those who drink alcohol are more susceptible to lung diseases such as pneumonia, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even that that nasty virus that has been harassing us for the past couple of years.

Weight Gain or Inability to Lose Weight

There are many ways in which alcohol can cause you to gain weight or impedes our  ability to lose weight. Besides the fact that alcohol can be a high-calorie beverage, especially when part of a mixed drink, it can also stop the body from burning fat. Alcohol may also may induce hunger, which can cause overeating even when the body does not need food.  Hello 2am pizza?

Anxiety

Not only can alcohol worsen the symptoms of anxiety, but it’s also possible  to experience symptoms of anxiety when suffering from a hangover.  Have you ever woken up with a pounding heart which is only made worse by reliving some of the “intoxicated” events from the night before?  For most people, there is a marked difference in anxiety levels after reduction in drinking.

Hormone Imbalance

Hormones  are messengers that the body sends to coordinate certain bodily functions. However, alcohol can impair the functions of the glands responsible for releasing the hormones. This can affect functions such as growth, development, maintenance of blood pressure, reproduction, and production, utilization, and storage of energy.

Sleep Disturbances

Some people may think that alcohol helps with sleep because it can have sedative effects that make you feel relaxed and sleepy. However, those who consume alcohol have poor sleep quality and duration, meaning you may fall asleep quickly, but you won’t sleep for as long as your body needs and you won’t feel rested upon waking. It seems as we age sleep our sleep is more disrupted by many things, alcohol only worsens this frustrating occurrence.

Brain Health

Alcohol can severely impact the health of the brain. Some effects of this, such as slurred speech, occur because alcohol reduces the communication between the brain and the body. This makes all activities that rely on this connection, such as reaction time and balance, slower and poorer.  With continued drinking, alcohol can also damage the brain’s frontal lobe, which is responsible for vital functions such as short-term memory, judgment, and impulse control.

The best way to reduce the negative effects of alcohol is to drink in moderation or detox entirely, and there’s no better time to start than right now!  If you want support or accountability around your 2022 plan with or without alcohol, please reach out. 

Happy New Year!  May 2022 be a Year of Health and Happiness!!

References

[1] https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-alcohol-hurt-your-immune-system-during-covid-19-outbreak

[2] https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Alcohol-and-weight-gain

[3] https://www.verywellmind.com/alcohol-and-hormones-66570

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm