No matter who you are or where you live, there’s a good chance that alcohol plays a significant role in your culture. While it is true that some types of alcohol do offer health benefits when enjoyed in moderation (such as red wine), it’s still important to be smart about how much alcohol you consume and how often. In fact, when you take steps to control and even limit your intake, it can be quite beneficial.
The Perks of Limiting Your Alcohol Intake
If you drink on a routine basis, cutting back on just one or two drinks can make a big difference in many ways. These benefits are worth considering as you decide what’s right for you.
Support a Healthy Liver
Your liver has over 100 major functions that are essential to life, from filtering out wastes to producing the factors your blood needs to clot when you’re injured. Too much alcohol can be hard on your liver and force it to work overtime. On the contrary, limiting alcohol, eating a healthy diet, taking a liver support supplement, and getting plenty of exercise can all help support this organ instead.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight, cutting out alcoholic beverages can be a great first step. Most drinks that contain alcohol are high in calories, simple carbohydrates, or both. On the contrary, if you keep your alcohol intake to a minimum, you can save yourself the extra calories and keep your body functioning efficiently.
Develop Your Coping Skills
For some people, alcohol is easily tolerated with minimal side effects. For others, it can be problematic, especially when it’s used to deal with stress. Instead, you can find positive ways to develop healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, hobbies, or connecting with friends and family. These can be useful for a lifetime.
Save More Money
There’s no getting around it: alcohol is very expensive. Whether you buy it at a store or order it when you’re out at a restaurant, the price per serving can be incredibly high depending on what your preference is. For people who are sticking to a budget and are tight on cash, it can eat through your funds in a heartbeat. If you want to splurge on something nice, most non-alcoholic options can still make the occasion feel special for a lot less money.
Tips for Smarter Alcohol Consumption
When you do drink, it’s important that you understand not only what’s recommended, but what your body can handle without issues and negative side effects.
Know Your Limits
Experts recommend that all adults limit their alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men. Keep in mind that this means individual servings. However, some people can tolerate more than one serving on special occasions, as long as it’s not a daily practice. In the end, you should pay close attention to your body and how you respond to alcohol as an individual; remember, everyone processes alcohol differently.
Plan Ahead
If you have a big night out planned, make sure you stay well-hydrated that day and have plenty of food in your stomach before you order your first drink. You’ll also want to keep drinking water throughout the evening. These proactive choices can make it easier for your body to metabolize alcohol effectively. It can also minimize your risks for dehydration, a common side effect of drinking alcohol.
Say Yes to Smaller Servings
You don’t have to cut out alcohol entirely to reap the benefits of less drinking. Limiting yourself to a smaller serving or one drink instead of two or three can give you the chance to enjoy something you love without going overboard on the cost and the calories. Take the time to savor whatever you order (or prepare) to make the most of the experience.
For most, drinking alcohol is a routine part of life. Take steps to limit your alcohol consumption to support a robust mind, body, and wallet.
