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.