Alcohol

Whatever it was, I suspect it lasted a couple of days and then faded away as life began to take over.

I was never one for making huge unrealistic goals for the year ahead. I probably just hoped to make it through the year and with a few days to go in , I'm pleased to report that I appear to have made it. So with this in mind, it is time to look at the year ahead. Over the past few weeks especially, I've been doing a fair amount of reflection on what can only be described as an extremely stressful year. How to cut back on the booze in With stress can come some pretty unhelpful coping strategies and, for me, that has definitely involved falling back on the "wine mum" stereotype.

Now, before I offend all my fellow wine mums out there, I am a positive supporter of the amazing restorative properties that the occasional glass of wine at the end of a long day can have.

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But what I have now realised is the slippery slope I found myself on when it came to relying on a tipple to "take the edge off". Where once the odd mid-week drink seemed like a logical supplement to the inevitable stress that came with a busy life, I was soon finding that I was having more days with these drinks than without.

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Don't get me wrong, I'm not an alcoholic. I don't drink myself to a stupor, never pass out, rarely vomit from alcohol intake, and have never missed anything due to my drinking. But that's not the point. It was more the subtle way that alcohol has slipped back into my life after being alcohol-free when pregnant and breastfeeding over the past few years that has made me uncomfortable.

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Don't know what emotion you're feeling? But over the past year I feel like I started looking forward to drink o'clock a bit too much, and I never really had an excuse not to have a drink. It never sat right with me the way that some people required an excuse from others as to why they were not also partaking in imbibing. When I was pregnant, or what I also like to refer to as "socially accepted sober", I definitely saw a different side to how alcohol fits in my social circles.

Women who refuse a drink are forever questioned about the status of their uterus in response, whereas men often were attacked along some type of masculinity-challenging lines. Excuses of not feeling like it, or having something planned the following day that they wanted a level of clear-headedness for, were often rejected by the group. Binge drinking may even lead to a blackout, a phenomenon characterized by memory loss, or amnesia, during a heavy drinking episode 8.

These effects are only temporary, but chronic alcohol abuse may cause permanent changes in your brain, often leading to impaired brain function 9 , 10 , Because your brain is very sensitive to damage, chronic alcohol abuse may increase your risk of dementia and cause brain shrinkage in middle-aged and older adults 12 , 13 , 14 , In worst-case scenarios, severe alcohol-induced brain damage may impair people's ability to lead an independent life.

Conversely, drinking moderately has been linked to a reduced risk of dementia — especially in older adults 16 , 17 , Alcohol intake and depression are closely but complexly associated While alcohol intake and depression seem to increase the risk of one another simultaneously, alcohol abuse may be the stronger causal factor 20 , 21 , Many people facing anxiety and depression drink intentionally to reduce stress and improve mood. While drinking may provide a few hours of relief, it will worsen your overall mental health and spark a vicious cycle 23 , In fact, because heavy drinking is a major cause of depression in some individuals, treating the underlying alcohol abuse leads to big improvements 25 , 26 , Beer has a similar number of calories as sugary soft drinks , ounce for ounce, whereas red wine has twice as much 28 , 29 , However, studies investigating the link between alcohol and weight have provided inconsistent results For example, moderate drinking is linked to reduced weight gain, whereas heavy drinking is linked to increased weight gain 32 , 33 , In fact — while drinking beer regularly may cause weight gain — wine consumption may cause weight loss 31 , 35 , Light to moderate drinking is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, while heavy drinking appears to increase the risk 37 , 38 , 39 , Characterized by abnormally high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes is caused by a reduced uptake of glucose, or blood sugar, by your cells — a phenomenon known as insulin resistance.

Drinking alcohol in moderation appears to reduce insulin resistance, fighting the main symptoms of diabetes 47 , 48 , 49 , Blood sugar between meals — known as fasting blood glucose — may also decline 51 , In fact, your overall diabetes risk tends to drop with moderate alcohol consumption.

However, when it comes to heavy drinking and binge drinking, your risk rises 53 , 54 , 55 , Cancer is a serious disease caused by abnormal growth of cells. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cancers of the mouth, throat, colon, breast and liver 57 , 58 , The cells lining your mouth and throat are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol.

Your risk increases the more you consume. More than four drinks daily appear to cause a fivefold increase in your risk of mouth and throat cancer, as well as an increase in your risk of breast, colon and liver cancer 58 , 59 , 61 , Alcohol abuse during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of birth defects in the US Binge drinking early in pregnancy is particularly risky for the developing baby In fact, it may have adverse effects on development, growth, intelligence and behavior — which may affect the child for the rest of its life It may be hard to believe, but alcohol may help you live longer.

Studies suggest that light and moderate consumption of alcohol may cut the risk of premature death — especially in Western societies 65 , Some people become addicted to the effects of alcohol, a condition known as alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Alcohol dependence is one of the main causes of alcohol abuse and disability in the US and a strong risk factor for various diseases Numerous factors can predispose people to problematic drinking, such as family history, social environment, mental health and genetics.

Many different subtypes of alcohol dependence exist, characterized by alcohol cravings, inability to abstain or loss of self-control when drinking As a rule of thumb, if alcohol is adversely affecting your quality of life, you may have a problem with alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Chronic alcohol abuse can have catastrophic health effects, impacting your entire body and causing a range of health problems.

For example, it can cause liver damage — including cirrhosis — brain damage, heart failure, diabetes, cancer and infections 9 , 54 , 58 , 71 , 72 , If you are a heavy drinker, following a healthy diet and exercise routine should be the least of your worries.

Getting your alcohol consumption under control, or abstaining completely, should be your first priority. Red wine appears to be particularly beneficial because it is very high in healthy antioxidants. In fact, red wine is linked to more health benefits than any other alcoholic beverage 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , That said, consuming high amounts does not provide greater health benefits. Heavy drinking causes health problems — regardless of the type of beverage.

In the US, one standard drink is any drink that contains 0. Moderate drinking is defined as one standard drink per day for women and two for men, while heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks per day for women and four for men Drinking patterns are also important. Binge drinking is a form of alcohol abuse and can cause harm.

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At the end of the day, the effects of alcohol range from a positive impact on your wellbeing to a health catastrophe.