Alcohol is always hotly debated in my programs, and it’s tough to say no. I get that. More than once did I feel like the odd one out, the boring friend, the party pooper. Just because I wasn’t drinking because I didn’t like how it made me feel.
Knowledge is key, so in this post, I share how alcohol harms women over 40. Being in that age bracket, I know how debilitating a hangover can feel and how much longer it takes to recover from a boozy night. But there is so much more to it, and once you take a closer look, you understand the trend towards teetotal.
But let’s not go there just yet. First, I want to share what food and hormone specialist Sara Gottfriedmd recently shared about the world’s favourite beverage.
Here are her reasons to limit or avoid alcohol:
• It’s a brain toxin. It shrinks the brain as you get older.
• After age 40, a glass or two of wine will hit harder because your liver is not as perky as it used to be.
• Alcohol slows down metabolism. We believe that it reduces fat-burning by 70% for around 24 hours. This means if you are drinking a glass or two every night, it slows down fat burning almost continuously and will prevent you from getting into a state of metabolic health.
• Alcohol is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. According to a study in 2011, just three units (!) of alcohol per week will increase your risk of developing breast cancer by 16.5%. That’s in addition to the 12.5% increase we already have simply for being a woman.
As you can see, it’s not only significantly harming your weight loss progress; it’s also putting you at risk for brain disease and cancer.
Forget the recommended 14 units per week; three are already enough to potentially give you cancer.
While this might be devastating news for some of you, I want to leave you with two uplifting messages:
1. Sara recommends making drinking alcohol super special. Instead of getting an average bottle from your local bottle shop, splash out and share a fine wine with your partner. Make it an experience rather than knocking it back in front of the TV.
2. I used the last two years to limit my alcohol intake significantly. The effect has been astonishing. My mind feels sharp like it hasn’t been in years. My energy levels have increased, and my mood has never been better.
Abstaining alcohol has never been easier. The market for alcohol-free drink options is growing, and communities like Sobergirlsociety are popping up to help you get sober.
Selfcare can be taking a break from drinking.
