During the holiday season, we often find ourselves spending more time at parties and events with alcoholic beverages. While everything is fine in moderation, too much of anything can cause a problem. If you’re looking to strike a better balance with holiday alcohol consumption, you’re in the right place!
The Effects of Alcohol on the Body
Before we talk about alcohol consumption and moderation, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what alcohol does in the body. There are a lot of misconceptions about alcohol, so let’s get those facts straight once and for all!
In recent years, many myths about alcohol’s health benefits have been debunked. Alcohol negatively impacts muscle, as it inhibits calcium from being absorbed by the muscle. It can also increase dehydration, which impacts all major body systems, especially digestion. Alcohol affects weight loss in particular because it lowers the ability of the body to break down nutrients effectively and to burn calories. This leads to more calories being stored in the form of fat.
And we can’t forget inflammation! Alcohol is linked to higher levels of inflammation in the body, which is a pretty big deal for all of us Lippy Ladies out there! We’re working hard to reduce inflammation every day through nutrition and conservative therapies. The last thing we want to do is cause an uptick, right?
Aside from the metabolic issues associated with alcohol consumption, there are also profound impacts on sleep. Alcohol often inhibits the body’s ability to have deep restorative sleep. This is the kind that is needed to aid in cellular repair and reduction of inflammation. This is because drinking before bed can interrupt the circadian rhythm, block REM sleep, and aggravate breathing problems. Lack of sleep causes an increase in cravings, which can lead to overeating or poor food choices throughout the day. This is a vicious cycle to be stuck in.
Finding a Better Balance with Alcohol
Understanding how alcohol impacts our bodies is crucial because it gives us the power to make informed decisions. Many people would prefer not to cut out alcohol completely. However, when you look at the research, it’s very compelling to consider cutting back, right? Make sure to check out the reference listed below if you want to take a deeper dive into this topic.
So many of my clients desire to find a better balance with alcohol. This can be especially hard around the holidays when everyone is drinking in excess. All of a sudden it feels “normalized” to partake and before you know it, you’ve had more than you planned on. Sound familiar?
If you can relate, I want you to know there is a better way, and you CAN achieve balance. It might take a bit of trial and error to do so, but rest assured there is a better balance out there for you!
Choosing a Strategy
When it comes to finding a better balance with your alcohol consumption, it’s important to take stock of the many different strategies out there. For example, one that I recommend to clients frequently is to have sparkling water between alcoholic drinks at parties. This will help you pace yourself, reduce total consumption, and hydrate you in the process. I also recommend adding some herbs, sliced fruit, or infused ice cubes to your glass to keep it feeling fun. This extra addition helps us feel “festive” without having to add any booze to our glass.
You might also opt to make a special mocktail, like this Cranberry ACV Fizz, one of my holiday favorites. Planning to make a fun drink like this one will allow you to have a special holiday drink in your hand, without compromising your health goals.
Whether you choose to enjoy only mocktails or use them in combination with a reasonable number of alcoholic drinks is up to you. This is a personal choice that will vary for everyone depending on their health goals and tolerance to inflammatory beverages. The key is to arm yourself with strategies!
Let’s Craft a Plan Together
That tip is just one of the many strategies I recommend to find a better balance with alcohol during the holidays. Beyond this one, there are many other things you can do to keep your consumption in check and feel good about your choices. If you’re interested in learning more, I’ve got a special treat for you! I put together a mini-training guide all about rethinking holiday alcohol consumption just for you!
Inside, you’ll find additional info about how alcohol is processed in the body as well as tips, strategies, journal pages, and mocktail recipes! Click right here to grab it for FREE and craft your own plan for holiday alcohol consumption to help you continue feeling your best and enjoy the holidays too!
References
Clevland Clinic, Health Essentials. (2020, April). Why You Should Limit Alcohol Before Bed for Better Sleep. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-you-should-limit-alcohol-before-bed-for-better-sleep
