It’s time to talk about booze

Let’s talk about alcohol. The consumption of alcohol is so common place and widespread that I feared sounding like the fun police writing this editorial.

But, the reality is, I am starting to see more and more patients report a reliance on alcohol to either ease stress, help them sleep or just help them get through the day, which is a worrying trend.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a refreshing gin and tonic on a hot summer’s afternoon, or a glass of red in winter, but honestly, I’d be lucky to have two alcoholic drinks a month, if that, on average.

I love an early night, I like waking up refreshed in the morning and I know the harmful effects of long-term alcohol intake on the body.

We drink to be social, we drink to unwind, to celebrate, sleep, ease stress, numb pain, relax in social settings and fit in.

We binge drink, to excess, as a country.

I commonly hear of people having a bottle of wine a night, a six pack a night, or “needing” an alcoholic drink every night.

The fact is, alcohol is a toxin. Too much can kill you. Chronic, everyday consumption can cause liver and kidney disease, diabetes and heart disease. It is dehydrating and nutrient depleting.

And let’s be honest, it makes you feel terrible the next day.

Moderation is a word I struggle with. What does moderation mean to you? Only one drink a day? One a week? A bottle every Friday and Saturday night but never during the week?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, defines binge drinking as five or more alcoholic drinks for males or four or more alcoholic drinks for females on the same occasion (i.e. at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least one day in the past month.

Heavy alcohol use is defined by binge drinking on five or more days in the past month.

All that I ask my patients and you to consider are your reasons for wanting to consume alcohol. Start 2018 on a good note, give back to your body, take a look at how much you drink, and ask yourself why?

Bec Winkler is a naturopath with more than 10 years’ experience. She works at the Chiropractic Centre, Jan Juc.