Alcohol: What it is really doing inside your body.
Unpacking the Truth Behind Every Sip
Well, this isn’t exactly the topic I imagined kicking off this blog with—but here we are! Honestly, this subject brings up a lot for me, but with so many people embracing Dry January, it feels like the perfect time to dive in, even if it's a little outside my comfort zone.
Why Talk About Alcohol?
My goal: to inform and educate about what alcohol does to your body, so you can make your own choices with some facts in hand. This isn’t about judgment or shame for anyone’s past or future decisions.
A Little Personal History
· Full disclosure: I’ve had my share of wild nights—yes, I partied like it was 1999 because, well, it was 1999!
· Back then, you might have caught me dancing on bar tops with zero regrets and a solid buzz.
· Honestly, my biggest worry (back then) was the extra calories and whether it would make me gain weight.
· I’ve never been a heavy drinker, just an occasional social one, and there was even a five-year stretch where I didn’t have a single drink.
· When I did indulge, it was typically a “first and only drink this month” kind of situation. I figured, no big deal—I can handle the calories, I worked out today!
I gravitated toward drinks like Michelob Ultra-Pure Gold (because it’s organic, right? No GMO corn or pesticides—how bad could it be?). I never really considered what the alcohol itself was doing to my body. Maybe you haven’t either. Or maybe, like me, you’ve focused mainly on the nutritional side—calories, macros—and even switched to “healthier” drinks like tequila or vodka, because clear liquors seem cleaner. While that’s not entirely wrong, it’s time to talk about what alcohol does inside your body.
What Actually Happens When You Drink?
· Nutrient Absorption: Even one alcoholic drink can impair your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc for up to 10 days! These nutrients are essential for over 300 enzymatic reactions, including energy production and DNA repair. So, one drink can mean nearly two weeks of cellular malnutrition.
· Hormonal Rollercoaster: Alcohol may give you a brief sense of relaxation, but buckle up—because afterward, your body releases a surge of stress hormones that can leave you feeling worse than before you opened that bottle. It raises cortisol and estrogen, decreased serotonin, disrupted dopamine—all leading to mood swings, bloating, fatigue, or just feeling “off.”
· Metabolism Mayhem: Alcohol halts fat burning for up to 36 hours, slowing your metabolism and digestion, irritating your gut lining, and disrupting blood sugar. If you’re feeling bloated, inflamed, sluggish, or struggling with stubborn weight, alcohol could be a factor.
The Serious Stuff
· Alcohol is a carcinogen—it causes cancer. Risks include breast, colon, throat, mouth, esophagus, and stomach cancers.
· It also increases your risk of dementia.
· “Moderate drinking is fine”—we’ve all heard it, right? But recent research is challenging this narrative.
· The World Health Organization, in a landmark 2023 statement published in The Lancet Public Health, made it clear: No amount of alcohol is considered safe for your health. Ethanol, the active ingredient, is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, alongside asbestos and tobacco.
· To drive the point home, the HHS and Surgeon General’s Advisory in January 2025 released a formal report detailing the causal link between alcohol and at least seven types of cancer, urging for updated warning labels. (I will post the link below)
How to Use This Info
I hope this post helps you feel more informed about alcohol and its effects—whether it’s you or someone you care about making these choices. If you’re trying Dry January or deciding to take a break from alcohol at any point, I hope you do more than just “white-knuckle” your way through.
· Check in with yourself daily or weekly: Notice your sleep, anxiety, brain fog, bloating, and joint pain.
· If you decide to drink occasionally, knowing the risks, opt for a high-quality tequila and support your detox pathways with glutathione and B vitamins.
· Above all: prioritise your overall lifestyle even more.
Final Thoughts
Knowledge is power. Whether you’re going completely alcohol-free or just becoming more mindful, understanding what’s really going on inside your body can help you make the choices that are right for you. Below are the links to articles used or referenced in this blog if you would like to delve further into the topic. I highly recommend Dr. Mercola’s article.
Link to HHS:
https://share.google/iarDewXejy7J1QUg3
Dr. Mercola’s article on alcohol and Demetia Risk and Brain Lesions
