Let's talk alcohol. How much IS too much?!

I'm going to start this week's blog with complete transparency. Around once a week, sometimes twice, I pour myself a small Malibu and Pepsi Max. So, as one Malibu is half a unit, I average around one (sugary) alcoholic drink a week... I'm not teetotal and don't currently plan to be. But even taking into account celebrations, Christmas, Easter, holidays and more, I try and practice what I preach and my lifestyle is at least 85% alcohol, refined sugar, artifical sweetener and processed food free. However, I'm not perfect and neither do I plan to be!

But let's get back to the topic in hand and address a few key points...

The Hard Truth

Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive and dependence-producing substance, which has been classified as a Group 2 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago. This is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. While the risk is higher with higher alcohol intake, the latest data indicates that half of alcohol attributable cancers are caused just by light or moderate drinking. Let's add in the fact that alcohol can cause mood swings, depression, blood sugar spikes and therefore energy spikes and crashes, cravings, skin breakouts, poor decision making, faster ageing, erectile dysfunction in men, affect hormone production, so reducing fertillity in both men and women, can make it difficult for our intestines to control bacteria and absorb nutrients, which can further affect physical and mental health. I think it is fair to summarise that no amount of alcohol is 'good'.

Which leads to the next widely believed 'truth'..

'A glass of wine is good for you'

Absolutely, grapes are good for you. A great source of antioxidants. Which is partly where this 'fact' arose from. It also arose from a variety of studies. However, more recent studies have highlighted an important flaw in the previous findings. They failed to go into the type of people who drink ONE or TWO glasses of wine then stop. It's now been realised that the type of people who stop after a glass (or occasionally two) of wine, tend to also be the type of people who have other healthy habits. Therefore absolutely, these people came out as having better heart health, longer life expectancies and more.

My uncle is 'a glass of wine' kind of man. He also spends a lot of time outdoors in the fresh air, grows his own organic vegetables, has a predominantly wholefood organic diet, takes care of his mental health. Even the wine he drinks is organic. Drinking wine isn't 'good for you'. It's alcohol (see 'The Hard Truth' above) It's just one glass of wine is better than choices that other people make...

The government baffled me. Until they didn't...

Let's talk government recommendations. In the UK, the government advises that..

'adults should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week'.

What does that look like? Around 6 pints a week OR 4-5 glasses of wine OR 1/2 large bottle of vodka.

Heavy drinking is defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as:

'5 or more alcoholic drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the last 30 days'.

In the USA,

'excessive alcohol use' technically means anything above 2 drinks a day for men and more than one drink a day for women.'

Where does your drinking level sit in these recommendations? Have any of them surprised you? What initially baffled me is why the government would recommend ANY amount of alcohol as a maximum? Why they wouldn't recommend no alcohol or refined sugar, while working on the assumption people would mostly have more than none. Then I realised, it wouldn't be helpful to the government financially to recommend we don't drink alcohol or eat sugary treats...

Let's rewind to the start. How much alcohol IS too much?

The truth? I don't feel it's for me to give you an answer. Just facts. It's for you to decide.

Is the level that you are drinking at best serving your physical, mental and financial help? Are you in control and able to stop? And are your drinking experiences always a positive experience, both at the time and the next morning?

If so, I'd say you've got it sorted! Bottoms up, as they say!

Ellie 🍃

Ultimate Health By Ellie

ps. if you DO like a drink, this is the most brilliant hydration drink for the next day. Electrolytes and a natural energy boost: AMPED™ Hydrate (isagenix.com). Plus only around £1.20 per litre, Shared this as I think at least one person drinking this is slightly hungover...