Healthy Alcohol Consumption – A Naturopath’s Perspective

Like many things in this world, alcohol should always be consumed in moderation. Too much alcohol can lead to life-changing health issues. While there is no such thing as “too little” alcohol consumption, abstaining altogether means missing out on the many benefits of drinking alcohol in moderation.

Drinking alcohol in moderation is different for everyone. While guidelines say that women should consume no more than 1 drink per sitting or 5 drinks per week and men should consume no more than 2 drinks per sitting or 10 drinks per week, everyone’s tolerance and needs are unique. Speak to your healthcare professional about what is right for you.

It is important to determine whether drinking in moderation is right for you. If you have any of the following health concerns, it is advised that you do not drink until the health concern has been addressed:

• Gut issues: Individuals with IBS, Crohn’s/Colitis, acid reflux/GERD, chronic constipation/diarrhea, SIBO (small intestinal bowel overgrowth), food sensitivities, and more are all considered gut issues. The consumption of alcohol will irritate gut lining, exacerbating symptoms of these issues and can feed bacteria and aggravate the condition.
• Weight gain: Alcohol is a sugar that adds to your metabolic load, but does not add any nutritional value causing additional weight gain.
• Poor sleep/chronic fatigue: Alcohol interrupts REM sleep, which is essential to restoring vitality and energy.
• Hormone imbalance (especially estrogen dominance): Alcohol increases the cirulation of estrogen in the body, which does not help those struggling with PMS, heavy periods, clots, weight gain, mood swings, endometriosis, fibroids, etc.

Some things you can do to make healthy, moderate alcohol consumption work for you includes:

• Staying hydrated: Make sure to drink plenty of water during and after consuming alcohol.
• Protect your gut health: Eat foods that protect your gut health and avoid things like fried foods, dairy, gluten, processed foods, sugary goods, and anything that you are sensitive towards. It is best to keep your diet high in probiotics.
• Support your liver: Your liver is in charge of processing alcohol. Supplementing it with milk thistle, dandelion root, magnesium, and B-vitamin helps keep it functioning well.
• Limiting added sugar: This includes fruit juices, mixers, and sugary syrups in mixed drinks.
• Sweat it out: Exercise after drinking to recover from alcohol ingestion. This will also help boost metabolism and detoxification.

At the end of the day, it is your decision whether or not to drink in moderation. Just be sure to weigh the benefits and any potential risks that come with drinking. If you want to drink in moderation but don’t know if it’s right for you, or if you don’t know if you have any preexisting conditions that would be affected negatively by drinking, Dr. Cecilia Ho can help you. Contact Dr. Cecilia Ho today to book an appointment: 905-492-8688