It’s what nobody wants to hear. Alcohol isn’t good for your body. It puts a toll on your liver, zaps your nutrients, & leaves you with a killer headache. Now, I’m not saying that you should immediately halt all consumption, but there are some things to consider before you pour your next drink.
Alcohol’s Effects
Alcohol affects every organ in your body. When you consume a toxin like alcohol, resources get pulled away from the rest of the body to deal with the increased toxic load.
When you drink, a chemical called acetaldehyde builds up in your liver. This chemical is linked to cancer & genetic mutation. Alcohol also depletes SAMe, which regulates vital cellular functions. This means that drinking affects your body down to the cellular level.
The damage doesn’t stop there. Iron builds up in your body & peroxynitrite levels increase. These body cause oxidative stress. Alcohol inactivates a tumor suppressing gene called BRCA1. This increases your response to estrogen in breast tissue. That means that consuming alcohol can increase your risk for cancer.
Alcohol also wreaks havoc on your hormones, too. For women, estrogen rises up to 10% within half an hour of 1 drink.
Drink Smarter
You can choose less toxic drinks to lighten the load on your body. The best choices are vodka (potato — not grain-based), gin, tequila, & whisky. These are processed more than other types of alcohol, and the distillation removes a lot of the sugar. Steer clear of beer & red wine which are more inflammatory. Beer is especially problematic because it’s grain-based.
Mixers matter, too. Avoid highly sugared options full of chemical additives, colorings, & flavorings. These can increase cravings and brain fog.
My favorite options are low-sugar juices like lemon, lime, or cranberry (unsweetened). You can also mix things up with apple cider vinegar, and use herbs & spices for flavor. Also choose filtered water to avoid potential contaminations in tap water.
Continue The Conversation…
Follow me on Instagram @katemitchellmoore to join the community & conversation.
