Benefits of Drinking Less Alcohol

Once a week, even in the midst of a pandemic, it's recycling day in my neighborhood.

Everyone diligently trundles to the end of the driveway with their plastic bins, separated between paper and plastic & glass.

And as I've been walking the neighborhood on recycle day, one thing is clear: folks are drinking a lot of booze these days.

Look, I get this is a stressful time.

And, wine, beer and other alcohol surely helps take the edge off.

But there has to be a limit.

Because excess consumption can do a number on your health.

Overuse of alcohol has been linked to poor memory, increased stroke risk, and so much more.

Like sleep disturbances.

That's right, if you're enjoying a little "nightcap" before bed, believing it will help you sleep, think again.

While a glass of wine or a beer may have the immediate impact of helping you conk out faster, consuming before bed often leads to frequent awakenings and less restful sleep.

And those sleep disturbances often occur during the second part of the night when you're in the "REM" stage.

REM sleep is the stage of sleep when you dream and your brain is most active.

What's more, a night without deep sleep will only leave you exhausted and fatigued during the day.

It's a vicious cycle.

Bottom line...it's best to lay off the alcohol before bed.

Alcohol consumption can also mess with your skin health, giving you a reddish complexion.

This happens because drinking alcohol can cause the blood vessels near your skin to expand, resulting in a flushed appearance.

It can also impact your skin because it's a natural diuretic, which can cause dehydration.

And dehydration=dry skin, which looks good on no one.

Because alcohol is a diuretic, it can also have a negative impact on your bladder health, particularly if you deal with incontinence or overactive bladder, because consumption increases the amount of urine you make.

Plus, if you drink too much, it can disrupt the signals that let you know when your bladder is full, leading to an "accident."

If you've been with me a while, you know I would never tell you to absolutely stop doing something, particularly something you enjoy in moderation.

Alcohol is no different.

But you've got to be smart about it.

Because the last thing you want is for the wine or beer you're drinking to ease your tension to interfere with your sleep, rob you of energy, and cause a host of other health problems which will only increase your stress.

Cheers (responsibly).