Cheers To Your Health?
The short story is that drinking is bad for you. Despite the squawking in the press that a glass of red wine a day will be the key to seeing your 200th birthday, alcohol is just not that healthy. It depletes nutrients and offers none in return.
In fact, alcohol can cause serious nutrient deficiencies. That doesn’t mean you have to swear off the hooch forever. It’s just one more thing to keep in mind, so you can keep your mind for later use.
• Killing Your Killer B’s
Booze bashes Vitamin B the hardest. Vitamin B1 (Niacin) takes a pretty hard hit, as does Vitamin B3 (Thiamine). Both nutrients aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates, which is a skill you’re not going to want to lose come Sunday morning.
They also contribute to general health, and are the maintenance of healthy organs and chemical processes. A shortage of thiamine can be particularly dangerous, and in serious cases can result in Wernicke-Korsokoff syndrome, a nasty combination of brain damage and psychosis.
• Vitamin C Ya
Alcohol hammers Vitamin C supplies as it does with all water-soluble vitamins. Alcohol is a diuretic and it flushes vitamins out along with everything else when you turn on the waterworks after a few oat sodas.
Vitamin C contains powerful antioxidants, and is great for the heart and eyes, can boost immune function and can help prevent cancer and stroke. Severe depletion can cause scurvy, and even a deficiency can result in anemia, nosebleeds, weakened teeth and gums and other problems.
• Withdrawn Mineral Deposit
Alcohol also saps stores of essential minerals like iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc. These minerals are essential for healthy growth and body maintenance on every level.
Your very blood and bones, and the cells from which they are made, need healthy and continuous deposits of these minerals to remain in good health, and alcohol can strain the supply.
Keep these and all other nutrients filled to overflowing while keeping your glass half full can result in a better night, and much better morning after.
Of course, I should remind everyone that our blog entries are for your information only and are not intended as medical advice. Because everyone is different, you should work with your medical professional to determine what’s best for you. If you’re going to drink, do it legally and responsibly; don’t be stupid =).
