When it comes to achieving a healthy eating pattern, there’s room for all things, including alcohol. However, sometimes moderation can be easier said than done, and some people might experience adverse effects like headaches and mental fog, leading them to wonder whether they should quit drinking altogether. In this blog, we’ll discuss why you might want to quit drinking and what happens to your body when you do.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down our brain function. Over time, heavy drinking can lead to various adverse health effects, including memory loss, heart disease, liver disease, increased inflammation, and weight gain. Cutting back on alcohol could lead to some weight loss since alcohol has 7 calories per gram, and higher ABV drinks, especially those with sugar-sweetened mixers, can add up quickly.
Quitting drinking might also lead to better sleep. Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to reduced sleep quality and shortened duration of sleep, possibly due to alcohol’s reduction in melatonin secretion, a hormone that’s crucial for maintaining our body’s sleep and wake cycles.
Reducing your alcohol consumption can also help support your immune system by improving gut health and hydration. Long-term dehydration can lead to mental fog, fatigue, increased risk of stroke, and skin damage. Reducing our alcohol intake can help our body expel appropriate water, leaving us more hydrated and better equipped to fight illnesses.
Finally, keeping our alcohol intake in check can help reduce our cancer risk. Researchers found that higher alcohol consumption correlated with a higher risk of throat, liver, colon, esophageal, and rectal cancers.
The answer to whether you should quit drinking is entirely individual. Alcohol can be part of a healthy eating pattern in moderation. However, if you’re curious about stepping away, either temporarily or long-term, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break. Even reducing your alcohol intake by cutting back or swapping in a few non-alcoholic options can lead to impressive health benefits.
The dietary guidelines for Americans recommend one to two drinks max per day. However, serving size is essential for different types of drinks, with a 12-ounce beer, five ounces of wine, or one and a half ounces of liquor all considered a serving size. When consuming alcohol, mind the sweetened mixers, and keep your intake in check.
In conclusion, alcohol is prevalent in cultures worldwide and can hold social significance beyond how it affects our health. Still, it’s crucial to keep our consumption in moderation. Stepping away from alcohol, even temporarily, can lead to significant health benefits, including weight loss, better sleep, improved hydration, and a reduced risk of cancer. So why not see how it positively impacts your health and well-being?
Thanks for reading, and here’s to your health!
*****
Source Description
Going booze-free can result in significant health benefits; in this video, a dietitian explains how and why. For many people, sipping on a bold glass of wine at the end of a long day or enjoying an ice-cold frothy brew while watching a sports game is simply part of their daily life. But regardless of whether you are an occasional wine sipper or a regular barfly, skipping the booze might be worth a shot.
#EatingWell #Alcohol #Booze #Dietitian #Drinking #healthy
Read the article at: https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7991876/5-things-that-happen-to-your-body-when-you-stop-drinking/
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Why Should I Stop Drinking?
00:48 Losing Weight
1:18 Getting Sleep
1:42 Immune System Support
1:53 Staying Hydrated
2:25 Cancer Risk
2:54 Should You Stop Drinking?
An EatingWell registered dietitian answers the internet’s burning questions about the hottest topics in nutrition, diet, and health.
Subscribe to Eating Well: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=eatingwell.
Official Website: http://www.eatingwell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatingWell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatingwell
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/eatingwell/
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking | Dietitian Q&A | EatingWell
