April is Alcohol Awareness Month, with the first Thursday of the month being National Alcohol Screening Day. These were established to help reduce the stigma often associated with alcoholism by encouraging communities to reach out to people with information about alcohol, alcoholism, and recovery.
Here at Bel Marra, we have taken the time to spread awareness and compiled a list of articles that provide information on alcohol-associated triglyceride levels, kidney disease, and kidney pain. We also have information on alcohol’s health benefits and information on how long alcohol say in your system.
The surprising health benefits of drinking alcohol
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While we are often bombarded with information on how alcohol can damage your health, pack on the pounds, and worsen mental illnesses like depression, some studies show that having a drink may provide some surprising health benefits as long as it’s done in moderation. Keep reading to learn how different alcohols may help to improve your health.
Red wine
A glass or two of wine may help with weight loss, building immunity, and could even lower your risk of heart disease.
Weight loss: The dark red grapes used for creating some wines contain a chemical called ellagic acid, which slows the growth of fat cells and can stop new ones from being created. This helps to boost the metabolism of fatty acids in the liver cells and manage obesity. A glass of red wine has also been shown to enhance your workout and improve muscle strength and heart function. Continue reading…
The health benefit of alcohol you didn’t know about
You may have heard that moderate alcohol consumption can benefit your heart, but did you know it can also work to improve HDL cholesterol too? HDL is considered the good type of cholesterol that removes built-up plaque from the arteries, allowing for healthy blood flow. LDL cholesterol, on the other hand, clogs up the arteries, causing them to become stiff and preventing blood from going through.
It is well known that healthy lifestyle habits can go a long way in improving your cholesterol levels and, in turn, protect your heart from a cardiovascular event. Exercising, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight are just some of those ways you can try to improve your cholesterol. Now, there’s one more item to add to your heart-healthy shopping list. Continue reading…
Kidney disease and alcohol consumption: Causes of kidney pain after drinking alcohol
It is often advised to avoid alcohol consumption if you have kidney disease as it can result in kidney pain. Furthermore, consuming over four alcoholic beverages can worsen kidney disease.
The CDC estimates at least two out of three Americans consume alcohol, and some drinkers consume over five drinks at a time. Twenty-five percent of drinkers have admitted they have consumed over five beverages on one occasion at least once in the past year. This is known as binge drinking and it is associated with severe kidney problems.
Even drinking regularly too much too often can damage the kidneys. Regular heavy drinking is associated with double the risk of kidney disease. The risk is even greater among those who drink and smoke. Continue reading…
Triglyceride levels and the impact of alcohol
Triglyceride levels can be affected by alcohol intake in many different ways. For starters, alcohol consumption means more calories to metabolize. No digestion is required, so it goes directly to the liver. Instead of metabolizing fatty acids, the liver then starts processing the alcohol. As a result, the triglyceride levels in the liver—and subsequently in the blood—rise.
Secondly, alcohol alters the basic structures of liver cells and, as a result, they are unable to process fats the way they should. This, again, raises triglyceride levels and contributes to a fatty liver.
Lastly, alcohol drinkers typically snack on unhealthy food loaded with triglycerides. Potato chips, nachos, and pizza are all good examples of such snacks. Those extra calories translate to higher triglyceride levels too. Continue reading…
How long does alcohol stay in your system?
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If you’ve ever wondered how long alcohol stays in your system, look no further. The simple answer to this question is, though, it mainly depends on how much you drink. At some point, any alcohol that is not metabolized is held up in the blood and tissues. If this is a frequent occurrence, the tissues of the brain and body get damaged over time.
As soon as you have a drink, your body absorbs alcohol. Because it slows down the central nervous system, practically all of your body functions are affected. Unlike with other foods and beverages, your body doesn’t need to break down alcohol for digestion. Continue reading…
Related: Infographic – Effect of Alcohol on Human Body
