Benefits of Cutting Back on Alcohol

Rebecca Lewis January 28, 2015

Drinking alcohol is perhaps one of the best weekend leisure activities that many of us look forward to. As early as Friday night, we would go bar hopping with friends and alcohol will be pouring all night long. “Drink till you drop” is the mantra. Drinking alcohol is deeply ingrained in many cultures, and many people couldn’t picture their life without it. And because it is legal, many think it is safe. Well, not if you go overboard.

A little of alcohol, particularly wine, can be good for you. That’s because wine contains resveratrol – an antioxidant that has been found to boost heart health. But according to health guidelines, men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week, no more than four units in any one day, and have at least two alcohol-free days a week. Women, on the other hand, should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, no more than three units in any one day, and have at least two alcohol-free days a week.

But how many alcohol drinkers stick to this guideline? The moment they drink one cup, another comes next. Until they can no longer count how many cups they have consumed.

Below are the real benefits of giving up binge-drinking.

You will lose fats, especially belly fats.

Nutritionists consider alcohol as having empty calories. That is – calories without nutrition. And to make things worse, the calories from alcohol are the first to be used when combined with carbohydrates, fats and proteins, resulting to the delay in the fat-burning process and boost of fat storage. Furthermore, alcohol supplies almost twice as many as protein and carbohydrates, with seven calories per gram. And since it lacks beneficial nutrients for a healthy metabolism, it slows down your metabolism. Not to mention that you like eating fatty foods whenever you drink. There’s no wonder why binge-drinkers tend to have bulgy tummies.

You’ll have better sense of well-being.

Say goodbye to hangovers that cause you terrible headaches and impair you from doing what you have to do the next day by giving up binge-drinking. Many people experience depression symptoms during hangovers too. Alcohol can seriously harm your mental health. Binge drinking impairs judgment, so drinkers are more likely to take risks they might not take when they’re sober. Drinking disrupts sleep patterns, which affects your concentration and energy levels the next day. This can lead to struggles with studying or working.

Your overall health will improve.

It’s no secret that alcohol consumption can cause major health problems. It is linked to many diseases, such as anaemia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Heavy alcohol use is also a major factor for liver disease. What’s more, it can cause cardiomyopathy – a potentially deadly condition in which the heart muscle weakens and eventually fails, as well as heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation.

Your sex life will improve.

Drinking alcohol to excess can significantly affect your sex life. In men, it can cause difficulties getting and maintaining an erection. In women, it may cause reduced lubrication, which negatively impacts orgasms. Drinking can also interfere with conception. Women who drink more than the recommended amount can take longer to become pregnant and can suffer from menstrual and fertility problems.

If you have problems with binge-drinking, don’t feel bad. There’s always a source of help. Talk to a professional counsellor, and seek support from your family and friends. Check with your doctor to find the right services for you.