A pleasant thought: A mild summer evening, a glass of wine in good company while on vacation or on your balcony. Could this be harmful to your health? Now, a study shows that even low alcohol consumption harms your health and your brain.
In the British Medical Journal (BMJ, June 2017), the authors of the alcohol study report that people who drink alcohol in moderation show poorer brain health than individuals who abstain from alcohol.
As an example, the study authors from the University of Oxford mention the hippocampus. This is a part of the brain that suffers in particular from the consequences of long-term alcohol consumption. The hippocampus is responsible for, among other things, memory, language, and spatial orientation. For instance, in language tests, alcohol drinkers performed worse than people who are completely abstinent.
In people who drink five to seven bottles of beer (0.5 liters each) or five to seven glasses of wine (0.1 liters each) per week, the hippocampus can shrink by two to three times.
What does alcohol consumption really do to your body?
Alcohol acts as a toxin in the body that is broken down by the liver. The so-called alcohol dehydrogenase takes care of this. This leads to additional stress on the digestive process. After drinking alcohol in the evening, you feel like you fall asleep better. There is a reason for this: alcohol promotes the neurotransmitter adenosine, which makes us sleepy. However, the effect of alcohol reverses by the second half of the night at the latest. When digestive activity begins, the digestive organs are further burdened by the breakdown of alcohol. This causes the sleep quality to decline.
That is not all. Alcohol consumption deprives the body of important minerals and water in the form of electrolytes. Furthermore, it is poison for nerve cells. These are just a few points on how alcohol affects the body.
Alcohol hangover: What now?
Enjoying alcohol in the evening can quickly turn into an unpleasant morning hangover. Who hasn't experienced it? Dizziness, headaches, body aches, and in severe cases, nausea in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Tips for a hangover
Exercise. A light walk in the morning can get your circulation going again. This can help you with headaches.
Balance your fluid levels: Because alcohol is a diuretic, it deprives the body of water and minerals. This deficit needs to be compensated for. Try electrolytes in the form of effervescent tablets or magnesium effervescent tablets.
Electrolyte Active
Electrolyte powder for rehydration
Detoxify digestive organs: Artichoke, milk thistle, and turmeric are natural plants that support the liver. They contain valuable secondary plant compounds. Among these plant substances, bitter compounds are particularly interesting as they support metabolism and promote bile and liver function. These need extra help for breaking down alcohol.
• Would you like to know more about electrolytes? You can read more about them here.
• Are you interested in the topic of secondary plant compounds? You can find out more here.
