How much you drink seems to be a badge of honour for how stressed your life is.
And while I get that life can be crazy and exhausting (seriously, I’m a business owner and mom of three boys!) – you can’t ignore the fact that alcohol is hard on your body also.
There are many reasons why you may “need” that drink at the end of a hard day – poor stress management, lack of sleep, hormonal imbalances, and mood disorders are all common triggers.
You may feel like alcohol has no effect on you, but it’s more about what you don’t see happening on the inside that you should probably be concerned about.
Here are 5 reasons why you should reduce your alcohol intake:
GUT BACTERIA IMBALANCE
Not only does alcohol affect nutrient absorption, but it also affects the bacterial balance in your gut. The balance of bacteria is an integral part of digestion, absorption, immunity, inflammation, and a healthy gut.
A bacterial imbalance can cause all sorts of symptoms ranging from heartburn, to food sensitivities, to mood disorders, and even hormonal imbalances. These can lead to issues such as SIBO, leaky gut, autoimmune disorders, infertility, depression, and more.
Protecting the balance of gut bacteria is important – and popping probiotics isn’t usually the best solution.
INFLAMMATION
Alcohol also affects your brains ability to regulate inflammation, and regular or heavy alcohol intake will lead to chronic inflammation.
You know inflammation is bad, it’s at the root of many health issues and, if not managed, is the precursor to many diseases. Keeping inflammation low and in control is key to a healthy gut and a long, healthy life.
IMMUNITY
Excessive alcohol has also been show to reduce your body’s immune response. This can reduce your body’s ability to fight infection, damage your organs, and prevent recovery from tissue injury.
While a weak immune system can be related to more than just alcohol consumption, reducing your intake can help improve it – along with a proper diet, lifestyle habits, and supplement protocol.
GUT PERMEABILITY
Also known as leaky gut, this happens when the lining of your gut becomes compromised, allowing unwanted substances to leak into the blood stream. The impact of alcohol on your gut bacteria seems to be a major culprit in causing gut permeability.
Once your gut becomes damaged, it can take quite a long time and be a big process to heal (but it’s not impossible). However, protecting your gut by managing your alcohol intake can make a big difference and is worth making a priority.
HEALTHY LIVER
Your liver is super important, it’s one of the largest organs in the body and is used for processing nutrients, metabolism, and the removal of toxins. And of course, alcohol is known to be very hard on the liver.
Reducing your alcohol intake protects your liver and allows for proper detoxification, nutrient absorption, and metabolism – keeping you regular and your system working properly.
So while I know all the cool kids are drinking their stress away after long hours and hard days, think about the impact that has on your overall health.
And if you feel like alcohol has already done some damage, are having a hard time reducing your intake, or are struggling to control the culprits, contact me and I can help you out!
