Alcohol is one of the only substances in modern society that can cause widespread issues throughout the body, yet it is widely accepted.
A report to the House of Commons stated that around 320,000 hospital admissions during 22/23 were alcohol related, and the WHO report 2.6 million deaths during 2019 can be attributed to alcohol.
What these statistics don’t tell you are the conditions and symptoms that alcohol contributes to with regular use. As always, these things don’t happen overnight but are apparent after the cumulative effect over many years of what’s considered acceptable alcohol consumption.
Weight gain
Alcohol is energy-dense, meaning it’s going to contribute to your overall intake during the day, which can lead to weight gain. Whilst the energy per gram is similar to a gram of fat, it offers no nutrient value and actually robs the body of vital nutrients in order to be metabolised.
Using alcohol to relax
This is often the case after a hard day at work where you come home and have a drink in the evening with dinner to help unwind after a stressful day. Whilst this, initially feels like relaxation it can often have the opposite effect.
Alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns, particularly REM sleep, an integral part of the sleep cycle responsible for energy restoration. It can also disrupt the absorption of Vitamin B12, which has a role to play in energy production and due to excess fluids it can cause you to wake in the night to use the bathroom.
So those couple of drinks in the evening lead to a poor night’s sleep, which means you wake not feeling rested, being overly irritable and longing for high sugary foods to give you a boost of energy. Apply this 2-3 times a week and you’re suddenly constantly exhausted.
Digestive issues
Alcohol’s toxicity can lead to issues within the intestines, allowing substances and toxins to breach the ‘tight junctions’. This is often referred to as ’leaky gut’ and can change the composition of the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation within the GI tract and beyond. Anything that contributes to a compromised gut microbiome and overall gut health will have a negative effect seen across the entire body. The gut has a relationship with the brain, liver, skin, and lungs so consistent alcohol use can often be reflected in the health of many body systems.
Cardiovascular health
The cardiovascular system can be widely affected by alcohol use, where increased heart rates, elevated blood pressure and irregular heartbeats can all be associated.
Lifestyle
Eating optimally is important, but needs to be accompanied by good lifestyle habits. Focusing on sleep, exercise, social connections and stress management must go hand in hand.
Blood Sugar and Alcohol
Those with suboptimal blood sugar levels or type 2 diabetes can find it even harder to control their sugar levels when drinking alcohol. This can also lead to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to increased bodyweight, increased blood triglyceride levels, increased blood pressure, and a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the widely associated symptoms and conditions related to regular alcohol consumption, so as a population, we must take a look at how often and how much we’re drinking and question whether it’s the right choice.
There is a noticeable trend of more people choosing non alcoholic drinks. This is likely driven by a growing awareness of health and wellness alongside a far wider range of non alcoholic beverages.
