MEDICAL notes
AS THOSE aged 45-65 are encouraged to have more alcohol-free days, here are the advantages of doing so...
1 YOU MIGHT SLEEP BETTER
MANY of us think a quick Irish coffee before bed or a soothing glass of red will help us get to sleep, but no. Drinking before bed is actually far more likely to lead to disordered sleeping patterns and interrupted kip.
2 YOU MAY FEEL MORE ENERGETIC
MORE sleep = more energy, and waking without a hangover means starting the day feeling buoyant rather than sluggish, nauseous and foggy-headed.
3 ...AND HAPPIER AS A RESULT
IF YOU’RE sleeping better and feeling more energetic, you’re going to be in a better position to do the things that make you happy, and do them well.
Also, alcohol is a depressant – without it floating around in your system, you should feel lighter and generally more positive.
4 IT COULD HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT
WHEN downing a pint is equivalent to scoffing a slice of pizza, and a large glass of red amounts to eating a 40g bar of chocolate, you can see how going alcohol-free a few nights a week could help slim your waistline.
5 YOU’LL REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF HAVING HEART PROBLEMS
HEAVY drinking can have a major impact on your heart. Reducing your intake means being less at risk of high blood pressure – a major risk factor when it comes to a heart attack or stroke.
While some research suggests a glass of red can be good for your heart, overall, excessive alcohol consumption is likely to weaken the heart muscle.
6 YOU’LL DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM LIVER DISEASE
EXCESSIVE drinking puts a lot of pressure on your liver and can lead to cirrhosis of the organ and scarring, which can in turn lead to liver cancer.
7 YOU’LL HELP TO CUT CHANCES OF DEVELOPING CERTAIN CANCERS
INCLUDING liver cancer, Drinkaware note that alcohol has been “identified as a contributory factor for seven types of cancer.”
The others are bowel, breast, mouth, oesophageal, laryngeal (voice box) and pharyngeal cancer (upper throat).
Download the Drinkaware app (drinkaware.co.uk) to track your alcohol consumption, and receive tips on cutting down.