Why I’m thinking of giving up alcohol
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about alcohol and its effect on health. I am not a heavy drinker but as most Swedes I usually drink a couple of glasses of wine during the weekends. Sometimes the win bottle has become the company during some weekdays as well. During the last year it’s also become a habit to grab a bottle of beer from the fridge on Friday afternoon when all the work is done. Since I live very strict during the weeks with daily exercise and control over what I eat, the beer has become a weekly reward.
The “Beer Reward” may have given me a temporary satisfaction. Although, isn’t it strange that I work all week to improve and optimize my health and then end it by doing something that clearly does the opposite? Even if I know that one beer doesn’t make that much impact on my health, it’s still a contradictory act.
For many years I have seen on my Garmin watch that my pulse is getting high when I drink alcohol. Well, actually not only when I drink it but for hours lately. But it was not until I bough my Oura ring a month ago that I realize how much small amounts of alcohol effects both my pulse and my sleep.
Alcohol’s effect on our bodies
Alcohol, or ethanol which is it’s chemical name, is a colorless liquid that paralyzes brain activity. This is why we experience alcohol intoxication with effects such as happiness, increased sociability and decreased anxiety. So there is no wonder why many of us enjoying the feeling of a glass of wine or a beer.
Most studies on alcohol research the effect of long-term drinking or overconsumption of alcohol. And we all know that drinking too much is not good for us. It can cause fatty liver, brain damages, high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems and digestive problems. It’s easy for us “occasional drinkers” thinking that non of this is relevant to us and our lifestyle. Instead, we can read in the daily newspaper about the benefits of drinking a glass of red wine now and again. We’ve been hearing that red wine actually can improve our health. That’s sounds amazing! We can just continue pouring up or wine glasses in front of the telly and feel good about ourselfs. But when something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
In 2023 The New York Times lifted up a research that showed that even alcohol in small doses can have consequences on our health. Moderate consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of heart diseases and high blood pressure. It can also lead to atrial fibrillation which is an abnormal heart rhythm. Research has also shown that alcohol can be a direct cause of certain cancer forms such as breast and esophageal cancer. The risk of getting these diseases increases with any alcohol consumption. Although, one should know that genes and lifestyle factors also play a big role when it comes to the risk of getting these diseases.
Why not just keep drinking in moderation?
Alcohol creates oxidative stress which can lead to cell injury. As a healthy middle-aged woman with an aim to live a long, happy and healthy life, this is not something that I want to expose my body to. As I’ve also seen the effect that alcohol consumption have on my sleep, I don’t know if my weekly drinks are worth it anymore. I want to be able to wake up rested and fresh everyday, ready for whatever the new day holds for me. Even if it was a long time I had a proper hangover, I can still feel a difference between mornings when I have had a drink the day before and “sober” mornings. I have neither the time nor the desire to not wake up as the best version of myself – everyday.
Experiences from people who have stopped drinking alcohol include improved mental clarity, improved sleep and better looking skin. Who wouldn’t want that? As alcoholic beverages are filled with added sugar and empty calories it can also effect the metabolism. This means that quitting alcohol also can lead to maintaining a healthy weight.
So, what will happen to my weekly “Beer Reward”? As for now, I’ve paused that habit and try to reward myself with things that are actually doing some good for my health instead. If I feel like I want something “special” for my Fridays, I reward myself with a fresh and tempting mocktail – without any changes in heart rate or poor sleep to follow.
Sources:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/well/mind/alcohol-health-effects.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_(drug)
https://www.alko.fi/sv/ansvarsfullt/alkohol-och-halsa/alkohol
