Alcohol…a pretty tough topic I know.

It can be a great help in social settings, be a wonderful conversation piece, and help you wind down after some tough days.

But for me personally, I believe there are too many negatives to positives.

Of course, I’ll have a drink from time to time don’t get me wrong. Typically to celebrate an achievement or have 1 or 2 at a family gathering.

But I’ve ruled out consumption on a consistent basis.

Between family members struggling with alcoholism, witnessing others go through some incredibly difficult situations, and the negative effects I can feel in my own body and mind - there’s no reason to keep the drug around in my life.

It can rid us of our rationality, make us reckless, make us violent, and cause a lot of harm.

And as someone who craves control over my life, I felt I couldn’t continue.

Athletics served as a wonderful excuse to not indulge for years. But there’s always been more behind this reason.

Again, this is all from my own personal experience. Everyone is different.

As for the body & athletics, alcohol can have detrimental effects on our system. Destroying your recovery, your chances to perform, and your growth as an athlete. I’ll dive into some of the negative effects below 👇🏼

Book a call with me! Let’s talk health & fitness, habits, life, social media, athletics, etc. Click the link below to schedule…I look forward to chatting 😃 

 Liver Damage: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver inflammation, fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis.

Heart Problems: Chronic alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, irregular heartbeats, and cardiomyopathy.

Cancer Risk: Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of various cancers, including liver, breast, colon, and throat cancer.

Weakening of the Immune System: Heavy drinking weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Brain Damage: Alcohol affects brain function, leading to impaired judgment, memory loss, and cognitive deficits. Long-term heavy drinking can result in conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and brain shrinkage.

Mental Health Issues: Alcohol abuse is linked to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide.

Digestive Issues: Alcohol can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to conditions such as gastritis, ulcers, and pancreatitis.

Nutritional Deficiencies: Alcohol interferes with the absorption of essential nutrients, leading to deficiencies in vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, folic acid, and calcium.

Weight Gain: Alcoholic beverages are high in calories and can contribute to weight gain and obesity if consumed excessively.

Addiction: Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol dependence or addiction, causing withdrawal symptoms when consumption is stopped.

Sleep Disruption: Alcohol disrupts sleep by reducing REM sleep, increasing nighttime awakenings, causing snoring and sleep apnea, and leading to next-day drowsiness.

Loss of Recovery: Alcohol impairs muscle recovery by inhibiting protein synthesis, increasing inflammation, and disrupting hormonal balance, hindering the repair and growth of muscle tissue.

I want to challenge you to rid alcohol from your life for a small period of time. Maybe a week, a month, 3 months, a year…just run a trial period. See how it makes you feel. From here, decide how you will move forward with the substance. I have a feeling you may reassess after some time off. Best of luck in your trial 😁

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