CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Many people think of alcohol as a harmless way to unwind and socialize, but alcohol can seriously impact your health. One of the main ways it does this is through the production of toxic byproducts called free radicals, which damage cells and tissues.
Here are a few ways in which alcohol damages the body:
Damages the intestinal lining, leading to a “leaky gut.” This allows toxins and bacteria into the bloodstream, triggering inflammatory-based disorders.
Is a neurotoxin that can damage brain cells, causing brain inflammation and contributing to a range of neurological problems, including memory loss, trouble thinking and speaking clearly and seizures.
Can interfere with your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, leading to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which causes a stress response.
Heavy alcohol use can lead to ketoacidosis (a serious condition that can be life-threatening) and lactic acidosis (a condition that can lead to organ failure). Alcohol can also lead to fatty liver disease.
Can impair energy levels. NAD+ is a vital molecule in energy production, DNA repair and cellular metabolism. Alcohol can turn NAD+ into NADH+, lowering energy, impairing DNA repair, increasing inflammation and speeding up inflammation.
Can shut down liver detoxification, leading to a build-up of toxins in the body and worsening health.
Can damage gut neurons, promoting constipation and small intestine bacterial overgrowth, which causes bloating, abdominal pain and other gut issues.
It’s worth noting that many people don’t realize they are actually alcoholics based on how much they drink.
Our culture normalizes and glorifies drinking through product placements and heavy advertising. In 2017, the top six U.S. alcohol companies spent $2.9 billion on advertising. Studies have found alcohol advertising is associated with increased consumption and binge drinking, particularly among young people.
Embrace sobriety, feeling good in the morning and waking up without shame or regret.
To learn more about our services and to schedule a free consultation, please visit our website. We work with your prescribing physician for optimal results. Do not discontinue medication or hormone replacement therapy without consulting your prescribing physician.
Written by JOSH REDD, chiropractic physician at RedRiver Health and Wellness Center.
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About Josh Redd
Josh Redd, MS, DABFM, DAAIM, is a chiropractic physician and author of the Amazon bestselling book “The Truth About Low Thyroid.” Redd owns seven functional medicine clinics in the western U.S. and sees patients from across the country and around the world who are suffering from challenging autoimmune, endocrine and neurological disorders.
He studied immunology, virology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins, where he is a MaPHB candidate. He also teaches thousands of health care practitioners about functional medicine and immunology, thyroid health, neurology, lab testing and more.
Resources
- RedRiver Health and Wellness Center | Address: 1490 E. Foremaster Drive #130, St. George | Telephone: 435-767-9355 | Email: [email protected] | Website.
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