Do you enjoy drinking beer or wine? When consumed in moderation, studies show that enjoying such drinks every now and then can have positive effects on our bodies.
But as too much of anything is bad, make sure that your occasional “drink” doesn’t become a habit and you just stick to a glass or two.
Is Beer Bad for You?
As drinking alcoholic drinks continue to be a common practice, everyone should be mindful to not make it into a habit as there is a clear link between alcohol consumption and its adverse effects on our bodies, both immediate and long-term. While there are notable beer health benefits, you should still take beer health risks seriously and make sure to not succumb to excessive drinking.
To help you understand it better, here are 10 harmful effects of alcohol on your body:
According to studies, excessive alcohol drinking can lead to negative long-term and short-term effects.Unsplash (CC0)
1. Liver health risks – Our liver is the organ that metabolizes alcohol, processing too much of this substance can bloat its cells, leading to liver damage. This can result in liver diseases like alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure and death.
2. Pancreatic health risks – Excessive alcohol drinking can also contribute to developing conditions like pancreatitis, where the pancreas suffers from inflammation and blood vessel swelling. Left unchecked, this can affect your body’s ability to digest food and absorb nutrients.
3. Brain health risks – It’s a well-known fact that alcohol consumption can also affect the brain. Alcohol can affect our memory, ability to learn and behavior. It can also result in loss of white and grey matter leading to brain shrinkage.
4. Compromised immune system – Alcohol consumption can also have a long-term effect on our immune system, impairing our body’s ability to stay strong and fight off diseases.
5. Cardiovascular health risks – Alcohol can also raise your cholesterol level, which puts your heart at a greater risk of suffering from numerous fatal conditions, such as stroke or heart failure.
6. Reproductive health risks – Excessive alcohol intake can have a negative impact on your reproductive health, leading to abnormalities in testosterone, estrogen and progesterone levels which are needed for fertility. Alcoholism can also lead to a lower sex drive.
7. Weight gain – Alcoholic drinks contain empty calories and too much of these drinks can result in weight gain and increased cholesterol levels.
8. Depressive disorder – Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to alcohol-induced depressive disorder and anxiety. Most times, alcoholism can also lead to depression, which affects millions of people today.
9. Sleep disorders – Drinking too much alcohol can also affect our body’s natural circadian rhythm and body clock, leading to sleep disorders like insomnia. Left unchecked, this can negatively impact our day-to-day lives.
10. Higher risk of cancer – The development of different types of cancer can be influenced by excessive alcohol consumption, such as breast, liver, esophageal, head, neck and colorectal cancer.
Thankfully, you can continue to enjoy the refreshing taste of beer and other alcoholic drinks minus the alcohol through non-alcoholic beer alternatives. Curious Elixirs offers a delicious selection of such drinks.
The company describes its products as “craft cocktails without the booze,” specializing in great-tasting drinks that also have health benefits. Curious Elixirs offers non-alcoholic beer alternatives that use the best organic ingredients and contain no refined sugar. Its drinks also make use of adaptogens or herbal pharmaceuticals that counteract the effects of stress in our bodies.
Flavors & Purposes
Curious Elixirs currently has five flavors to enjoy, all these were made in collaboration with world-class bartenders, herbalists and food scientists.
Made from carbonated filtered water, herbs, spices and juice extracts, this energizing drink is best served on the rocks, with an orange slice for garnish. One of Curious Elixirs’ signature mixes, its a healthy take on Negroni, with rhodiola and gentian to boost your energy.
Order here for 8 cocktails in 4 bottles for $36.00 ($30.00 with a subscription) or 24 cocktails in 12 bottles for $89.00 ($75.65 with a subscription).
A mix of spicy pineapple margarita, ginger and lime, the Curious Elixir No. 2 is for quiet nights in and something to calm your nerves. It contains damiana, which helps relax your muscles and also acts as an aphrodisiac. Add a wedge of lime and salt the rim of your glass, pour it in and enjoy!.
Buy it here for 8 cocktails in 4 bottles for $36.00 ($30.00 with a subscription) or 24 cocktails in 12 bottles for $89.00 ($75.65 with a subscription).
We drink to relax and unwind, the Curious Elixir No. 3 is perfect for that. Using the destressing benefits of ashwagandha and other fruit extracts, this non-alcoholic beverage is best enjoyed after a long day at work and chilling out.
Buy it here for 8 cocktails in 4 bottles for $36.00 ($30.00 with a subscription) or 24 cocktails in 12 bottles for $89.00 ($75.65 with a subscription).
Tired mind after a busy day at work? Enjoy a drink with anti-inflammatory effects like Curious Elixir No. 4. It’s a delicious drink made of ginseng, turmeric and holy basil that can help reduce stress.
Buy it here for 8 cocktails in 4 bottles for $36.00 ($30.00 with a subscription) or 24 cocktails in 12 bottles for $89.00 ($75.65 with a subscription).
The latest addition to Curious Elixir’s offerings, No. 5 is an old-fashioned smoked cherry chocolate flavored drink. Infused with immunity building ingredients like elderberry, ginger, cayenne and chicory, this spicy and smoky drink is perfect for giving your body balance. It also contains shatavari, a body-balancing ayurvedic ingredient best known as “the Queen of herbs.”
Buy it here for 8 cocktails in 4 bottles for $45.00 ($40.00 with a subscription) or 24 cocktails in 12 bottles for $115.00 ($100 with a subscription).
Curious Elixirs also offers a monthly variety pack for only $80.00 if you want to try all flavors. For more information about Curious Elixirs, you may click here.
Long days of work, lack of sleep, and stress at the office can be the most common factors that make you feel tired. However, feeling “tired all the time” (TATT) without known reasons can be an indication of an underlying health issue that needs immediate attention.
Finding the exact cause of the lingering tiredness can be the first step toward solving the symptom.
Health conditions that cause fatigue:
1. Anemia – Anemia is one of the most common causes of fatigue. A person who has anemia does not have enough red blood cells in the body, causing symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness, feeling cold and crankiness.
Most often, anemia is caused by iron deficiency. Hence, the condition can be best resolved by including iron-rich foods in the diet and use of iron supplements.
2. Sleep Apnea – It causes the body to stop breathing momentarily during sleep. The condition can affect the quality of sleep and hence make you feel fatigued.
For milder cases of sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking can help solve the sleep disorder. In more severe cases where there is an obstruction in breathing, surgeries and therapies can help.
3. Diabetes – A person who has diabetes has changes in blood sugar level, which can cause fatigue. A patient who is already on diabetic medication can also experience tiredness as a side effect of the medication.
Early identification and taking the correct treatment is the key to managing diabetes. Losing extra weight and having a healthy diet also help in the treatment.
4. Thyroid – Thyroid diseases can be due to an overactive or an underactive thyroid gland. In people who have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), the metabolism slows down leading to symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue. In people with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), the metabolism speeds up leading to fatigue and difficulty sleeping.
Right diet and lifestyle choices, along with medications, can help in thyroid management.
5. Infections – A person can show symptoms of fatigue when the body is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. Infections ranging from the flu to HIV can cause tiredness.
Along with fatigue, other symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, shortness of breath and appetite loss can also accompany the infection. Treating the symptoms and taking adequate rest helps in faster recovery.
6. Food allergies – Fatigue may be an early warning sign of hidden food allergies and autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease. Identifying the allergen using a food allergy test or through an elimination diet can help in allergy treatment.
7. Heart disease – If you feel exhausted from an activity that used to be easy, then it is good to check your heart health, as fatigue can be an indication of underlying heart disease.
8. Depression/ anxiety – Fatigue can also be an indicator of a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. A combination of medication and psychotherapy can help relieve symptoms.
Lifestyle causes
Apart from serious health conditions, certain lifestyle habits such as dehydration, poor diet, stress and insufficient sleep can cause exhaustion. Having a well-balanced diet, regular exercise and routine sleep can help solve fatigue caused by lifestyle habits.
Picture this: you’re burning the midnight oil, studying or binge-watching your favorite shows, all at the expense of a good night’s sleep. Have you ever stopped to think about the toll it takes on your body and mind? The consequences can be more serious than you might realize.
Not getting enough sleep can translate into a multitude of issues, including weight gain, lack of focus, tiredness, a haze of confusion, and even depression. If you too are encountering similar issues lately then chances are you have a sleep debt.
Wondering what is sleep debt?
People from 13-18 years of age need 8 hours of sleep, whilst adults beyond that age will require at least 7 hours of snooze.
Sleep debt is a collection of the total hours you haven’t slept or traded your sleep for something else. Sleep debt keeps piling up as a person falls short of the total hours of sleep recommended for an adult, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And when you keep letting go of your sleep for other activities, the body adapts to the new normal and effects start to reflect on the energy levels, which deplete.
“However, like every other debt out there, this too has a repayment option,” Dr. Kunal Kumar, medical director of the Sleep Center at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, told Livestrong.
Below are some expert-vetted ways you can pay back the sleep debt. (Courtesy: Livestrong and Sleepfoundation)
Just like financial debt, imagine sleep debt as a debt you owe to your body. It needs to be repaid. The good news is that catching up on sleep is indeed possible.
Maintain a set sleep schedule: Overhauling the sleep schedule is a pretty difficult task to achieve, and it’s best to do that gradually. Create a set sleep schedule by making some small changes to your routine. Instead of making abrupt shifts in your bedtime or wake-up time, adjust them gradually by 15 to 30-minute increments.
Minimize your gadget usage: Wind down activities and minimize electronic usage before bed to promote better sleep. Relax and prepare for quality sleep by dimming the lights and setting an alarm for 30 minutes to an hour before bed.
Reshuffle your sleeping arrangements: Are you finding it hard to get a good night’s sleep due to excessive sweating? Well, here’s a handy solution: consider upgrading to a cooling mattress or opting for cooling sheets. These innovative sleep essentials can help regulate your body temperature, and keep you comfortably cool throughout the night, ensuring a more blissful slumber. Memory foam pillows can work wonders in relieving neck and back discomfort in case you are struggling with backache.
Improve the bedroom environment: Create a sleep-friendly bedroom environment by adjusting the temperature for comfort, and blocking out disruptive lights, or noises that might disturb your restful slumber. And if your mattress, pillow, or sheets are worn out or no longer providing the support you need, consider treating yourself to new ones.
Omega-3 fatty acids are known for a range of health benefits, from promoting brain and heart health to reducing inflammation and protection against several chronic conditions.
In a new study, researchers found that omega-3 acids, especially the type found in foods like flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, canola oil and soybean oil, can slow down the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
It is a debilitating nervous system disease that gradually worsens over time and can be fatal. The condition results in a loss of muscle control and affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it.
The initial symptoms of the disease include muscle weakness, difficulty in walking and hand movements. The symptoms can slowly progress to difficulties with chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.
The exact cause of ALS is not known. However, around 10% of people get it from a risk gene passed down from a family member. It is estimated that more than 32,000 people in the U.S. live with the condition.
In the latest study, researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Massachusetts evaluated 449 people living with ALS in a clinical trial. The team assessed the severity of their symptoms, the progression of their disease, along with the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood, for 18 months.
The study suggested that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 found in plants, is particularly beneficial in slowing the progression of ALS. The participants with the highest levels of ALA had a 50% reduced risk of death during the study period compared to those with the lowest levels of ALA.
Researchers also found a reduction in death risk in participants who had eicosapentaenoic acid, the type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil, and linoleic acid found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.
A previous study conducted by the same team suggested that a diet high in ALA and higher blood levels of the nutrient could reduce the risk of developing the condition.
“In this study, we found that among people living with ALS, higher blood levels of ALA were also associated with a slower disease progression and a lower risk of death within the study period. These findings, along with our previous research suggest that this fatty acid may have neuroprotective effects that could benefit people with ALS,” said Kjetil Bjornevik, the lead author of the study.