Momma juice aka your favorite drink😊 Most of us probably still have that one glass/tumbler that our kids knew not to drink out of. I still have and use my tumbler 😊 But does it really relax or de-stress us? Doing my research, it was suggested that as females, we should have no more than 5-7 glasses of our favorite spirits/week. So, no more than one a night. How many of us have 1-2 glasses thinking it will help us sleep? And how often do we wake up the next day after having a few and feel like shit. Your tired, bloated, headache, etc…There are reasons why and some things to think about…
I think (for me) it greatly affects my sleep quality (and probably yours). We are already losing our natural melatonin which makes it hard to sleep thru the night and now we added alcohol. We fall asleep but your liver has to burn through the alcohol first and then your body goes into a “withdrawal” the second half of the night. This time period is usually when we are in our deep sleep (REM), so it just got shorter, and we wake up unrested. Plus, don’t forget that alcohol affects our hot flashes. So now we are having more, and they are more severe during the night.😴
Dehydrated? U bet! You wake up thirsty, tired, headache, dry mouth, etc… all signs of dehydration. Alcohol can affect our fluid balance. It doesn’t matter how much water we drink while we are drinking alcohol. Ever wonder why you have to pee within 20 min of alcohol, and you pee more often? Alcohol is dehydrating you. 🫗
Women also metabolize alcohol different from men. We actually get drunker quicker and with less alcohol than men. This has to do with our decline in sex hormones. We can actually have a higher blood alcohol content right before a period and during ovulation. 🤷♀️
After a night of drinking, do you feel like exercising? Probably not. Alcohol can affect our speed, balance, judgement, focus, info processing and we fatigue sooner for 24-72 hours after. And drinking after we exercise can affect our repair/recovery process, increase swelling, and prevent rehydration.💪
Some studies have linked alcohol to certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and decreased bone density in women.
Lastly, alcohol is linked to increased body fat, especially the mid-section and makes it harder to lose fat. The body has to burn through the alcohol first, so it stops burning fat and sugar as fuel and of course, the extra gets converted to fat. It can also lead to increased mindless eating which is usually not healthy, and we eat too much. Hard to control eating when inhibitions are lowered.🤦♀️
So, what to do with this info? For me, I just try to limit my drinking to 1 night a week (on the weekends). Sometimes I am successful and other times, not so much. All depends on what is going on. Summer is coming and that means cookouts/parties/ hanging outside. Questions to ask yourself? Can you limit your alcohol to one night a week? Can you switch your favorite to something that is lower in calories? (I know I do like the flavored premixed drinks). Can you have healthy snacks available to munch on? Can you take breaks and have some water? (At least help with some dehydration).🤔
There is absolutely no judgement on your alcohol intake just FYI to possibly make healthier choices to help with your weight loss journey. I believe that when you know better, you do better. Just some food for thought😉
**If you think that you have an issue with alcohol dependence, please seek professional help before you stop. Sudden withdrawal from alcohol can lead to serious consequences and/or death.
Comments