Alcohol and Healthy Living (Part One)
June 7, 2021
To drink alcohol or to not drink alcohol?
I believe a glass or two of alcohol won't hinder your progress greatly by any means. It's when we overdo it or do not calculate is when it can become an issue.
A liquid calorie is still a calorie. Many people eat within their calories throughout the day and have a few drinks at night. This could lead to pushing their calorie intake to a surplus or losing weight a lot slower than expected.
Not only does alcohol influence your calorie intake, but it also impacts your mood and energy levels.
According to Mayo Clinic:
Alcohol causes your body to produce more urine.
In turn, urinating more than usual can lead to dehydration - often indicated by thirst, dizziness and lightheadedness.
Alcohol triggers an inflammatory response from your immune system.
Your immune system may trigger certain agents that commonly produce physical symptoms, such as an inability to concentrate, memory problems, decreased appetite and loss of interest in usual activities.
Alcohol irritates the lining of your stomach.
Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid and delays stomach emptying. Any of these factors can cause abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to fall.
If your blood sugar dips too low, you may experience fatigue, weakness, shakiness, mood disturbances and even seizures.
Alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand,
which can lead to headaches.
Alcohol can make you sleepy,
but it prevents deeper stages of sleep and often causes awakening in the middle of the night. This may leave you groggy and tired.
When consuming alcohol and trying to live a healthy lifestyle, just make sure it's in moderation!
