Alcohol: Elimination of It Increases Health Benefits
By Stephen R. Farris
Ever heard of "Dry January"? It's been designated to help folks cut down, or eliminate, alcohol consumption. By now you should know what the effects alcohol has on the human body, especially when excessive drinking is involved. Anything more than one alcoholic beverage per day for women and two for men is considered excessive alcohol consumption.
So what can cutting out alcohol for a month do for your body. Studies show it can make a huge impact on your overall health where your liver, heart and shape of your body are concerned.
Liver
Drinking excessively could, over time, cause cirrhosis of the liver. Because alcohol contains sugar, it can contribute to building a fatty liver. However, just a few weeks of going alcohol-free can reverse that affect and the liver can begin to return to normal.
Heart Disease
Drinking excessively can cause changes in your cholesterol levels, particularly the bad type, LDL. LDL has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Drinking moderately, for instance, a glass of red wine per day can reduce this risk by as much as 40 percent in men over the age of 40, while women can benefit from this at any age.
Lower Cancer Risk
Excessive alcohol use can lead to diseases of the liver, head and neck, esophageal, breast and colorectal. Not only does it lead to an increased risk of cancer in those areas, it can have ill effects on other parts of your body as well.
Possible Weight Loss
Whether it's beer, wine or spirits, alcoholic beverages are high in sugar. While it's unsure or not, cutting out alcohol could possibly have a positive effect on your body's composition.
Brain Boost
Cutting down on alcohol use or dropping it completely out of your life can help increase your memory. Excessive alcohol use has been linked to brain damage, especially for underage drinkers, whose brains aren't completely developed yet. Yes, underage drinking does exist. But remember, the legal drinking age is 21.
And anytime you have questions about your overall health, talk with your local chiropractor to see what tips they may have and suggestions to help get you back on track. If you're experiencing pain in your back, joints and neck, they can help with that too, so you can begin getting the pain relief you need and deserve.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hixson, Tenn.