Drink in moderation | alcohol and stress, skin aging and stress (part 2)

Alcohol makes us feel relaxed and for many it is common to drink alcohol after a busy or stressful day. What many people don't know, however, is that alcohol actually increases the number of stress hormones in the body, worsening the negative effects of stress. So it secretly backfires. The problem mainly revolves around the stress hormone cortisol. The sad thing is that cortisol actually helps us deal with stress. But this only applies if we are not exposed to a stressful situation for too long. Too much stress means that the body is no longer able to adequately break down the amounts of cortisol. The result is increased blood pressure and suppression of the immune system, which increases the risk of getting sick. The body is also less able to produce collagen, which is precisely necessary for healthy, young skin. For a further description of the negative effects of stress on aging, see my blog of October 29, 2011. As we age, obesity is very bad for health and appearance. Drinking alcohol does not exactly help with this in a positive way. Weight gain in the middle age isn't inevitable. The problem, however, is that you don't have to drink huge amounts of alcohol to gain weight. A full unit of alcohol a day adds about 7 pounds of weight per year, provided you don't do anything to burn the extra calories. You must walk about 1.5 kilometers to burn the calories from one unit of alcohol. In addition, alcohol also increases appetite, especially for fatty, salty and high-calorie foods. A dangerous element to take into account.

Alcohol and Skin Aging

Alcohol has a strong desiccant effect. Alcohol accelerates water emissions and limits the absorption of nutrients that are actually important for healthy skin. Dehydrated skin ages much faster than normal. Drinking a lot of alcohol therefore leads to deeper lines and wrinkles.

• Alcohol has a direct aging effect on the skin: the widening of small blood vessels, broken veins and rough, dry skin are common symptoms.

• One of the worst effects of alcohol on the skin is its restrictive effect on the absorption of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The skin needs these nutrients to retain moisture and prevent inflammation. A lack of it leads to aging. The body also becomes less efficient in burning fatty acids.

Unfortunately, women are even more sensitive to these harmful effects. Not only do women have the disadvantage of being less able to break down alcohol, but they also have thinner skin so that the negative effects are visible more quickly.

Alcohol and weight

As we get older, obesity is very bad for health and appearance. Drinking alcohol does not exactly help with this in a positive way. Weight gain in the middle age isn't inevitable. The problem, however, is that you don't have to drink huge amounts of alcohol to gain weight. A full unit of alcohol a day adds about 7 pounds of weight per year, provided you don't do anything to burn the extra calories. You'll need to walk about 1.5 miles to burn the calories from one unit of alcohol. In addition, alcohol also increases appetite, especially for fatty, salty and high-calorie foods. A dangerous element to take into account.

Use alcohol wisely

It is not intended to appear polite or puritanical. For many people, drinking alcohol, a beer on a summer day, or a good glass of wine is a pleasant and enjoyable activity. There is nothing wrong with that. However, it is important to know the dangers so that you can make a good assessment of your own alcohol consumption for yourself. In principle, drinking alcohol fits perfectly into a healthy lifestyle. There are also studies that show that drinking a glass of red wine a day actually has a positive effect on health. Drink and live wisely and the harmful effects of alcohol on the body are neutralized. It's a matter of finding the right balance