In recent years, there have been mixed messages about alcohol in the news. While social drinking is seen as a normal part of our culture—whether it’s to relax, celebrate, or unwind—it’s important to stay mindful of how alcohol affects our health.
A Double-Edged Sword
While many enjoy a drink to unwind, it's important to remember its potential to disrupt the natural rhythms of our bodies.
Mental Health Alcohol can exacerbate:
Anxiety and Depression, distorting our emotional landscapes, leading to cognitive decline.
Sleep Disruption Alcohol reduces REM sleep, the restorative phase essential for healing and rejuvenation and it can exacerbate sleep apnea.
Cognitive Function: Even moderate consumption has been linked to deficits in cognitive function over time.
Decreased Sex Drive Alcohol causes decreased testosterone levels making it difficult to have an erection, decreased vaginal lubrication and it can prevent orgasms.
Weakened immune responses Alcohol can impair the body's ability to defend itself against pathogens. It also destroys microbes in the gut and disrupts the intestinal immune system.
Cardiovascular disease Alcohol can cause high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat.
Increased Risk of Cancer Alcohol is a known carcinogen and breaks down into chemicals that can damage DNA.
Most of us are aware of the Liver’s susceptibility to alcohol. Alcohol can cause liver cells to be replaced by fat cells. It can also cause inflammation, swelling, and eventually kill off liver cells.
It's Worse for Women
Due to unique physiological characteristics, women experience adverse effects at lower levels of consumption due to higher fat levels in the body that store alcohol, and lower levels of water which would dilute it. This means alcohol remains concentrated in the systems for longer and increases the risks of:
Accelerated Dependency: Evidence indicates that women may develop alcohol use disorder more quickly than men.
Breast Cancer Alcohol can increase estrogen levels, which can contribute to the development and progression of breast cancer.
Menstrual Irregularities: Alcohol can disrupt hormonal balance, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and...
Fertility Issues - see above.
Alcohol can elevate dopamine levels by as much as 200 percent above normal, much like the effects of fat and sugar. Dopamine is crucial for motivation and memory, signaling that an experience is significant, which can lead us to seek out similar activities in the future.
Significant alcohol dependence requires medical supervision to quit. However, if you need support in breaking the habit, our Organic CBD (99.8% CBD, 0% THC) can help alleviate cravings, anxiety, and depression, while also supporting sleep, pain management, and providing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. I recently cut out my nightly beer for weight loss, and our CBD helped me ease into a new routine.
Certain foods can also increase dopamine. These include nuts, seeds, dairy, meat, chicken, apples, green leafy vegetables, and green tea. So do exercise, mindfulness, and sleep. 🏃♂️ 🧘♀️ 🛌.
Drawing Parallels with Nature
Just as autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go—like trees shedding their leaves—acknowledging our relationship with alcohol can lead to profound transformation.
Embrace a mindful approach to drinking, considering both our present enjoyment and the lasting effects on our well-being.
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