The 10 health benefits of giving up alcohol

pros of drinking alcohol

However this requires an easy fix which is hydration, just drink water to enable it flush out the alcohol in the system and restore Sober living home adequate circulation in your body. So there were incentives for people to order large quantities of alcohol. They didn’t have to go to work and show themselves in a sober competent state.

Enhanced Mental Clarity

pros of drinking alcohol

They either have their inhibitions reduced and are more likely to become sexually active when they don’t intend to be or they become angrier with fewer controls, providing a higher chance for violence when compared to not having any alcohol. That is why light to moderate alcohol consumption is encouraged, but heavy drinking is discouraged. If you’re in good shape, moderate drinking makes you 25% to 40% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or hardened arteries. This may be in part because small amounts of alcohol can raise your HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels. Finally, sources generally agree that, when it comes to assessing the cumulative health effects of occasional or light drinking–whatever benefits or harms may exist are modest. It’s entirely possible that light or moderate alcohol consumption has no meaningful health impact for many people, according to Marcus.

pros of drinking alcohol

Blackout Drunk: Signs, Effects, and How to Stop It

Alcohol is a widely consumed beverage that has both positive and negative effects on individuals and society as a whole. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of alcohol consumption is crucial for making informed decisions about its use. In this article, we will explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of alcohol, shedding light on its complex nature and the impact it can have on our lives. In conclusion, alcohol can be enjoyed as part of a balanced lifestyle, but it is important to be aware of its potential dangers. By practicing moderation and being mindful of the impact of alcohol on the body and mind, individuals can make choices that support their overall health and well-being. The decision to drink alcohol should be made with careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks, ensuring that it enhances, rather than detracts from, one’s quality of life.

Lower Your Blood Pressure

pros of drinking alcohol

It limits a person’s ability to react.This is typically seen while driving, but it can occur in a number of different ways. Alcohol acts as a depressant, which means a person’s reactions are slower after consumption than before. Both cause reaction problems that could be life threatening depending on the circumstances. The sleepiness is also a temporary symptom, which means someone may pass out, but then wake up only a couple of hours later and not be able to go back to sleep. And people who have a drink or two together — rather than, say, sodas — are likely to spend more time talking. They’re also more likely to share smiles and keep everyone involved in the conversation.

Lowered risk of cancer

“I would suggest cutting back on several things rather than completely eliminating to avoid feeling deprived, which can lead to rebound eating/drinking and weight regain,” she said. “Again, depends on what the baseline alcohol consumption is,” she said. “The benefits can vary from person to person depending on how much of a change from their baseline behavior this is,” Rekha B. Kumar, MD, medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, told Healthline. Ellie is GoodtoKnow’s Family News Editor and covers all the latest trends in the parenting world – from relationship advice and baby names to wellbeing and self-care ideas for busy mums. Ellie is also an NCTJ-qualified journalist and has a distinction in MA Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and a first-class degree in Journalism from Cardiff University.

Possible benefits of alcohol

However, these health-supporting properties have shown to be beneficial only when you drink less alcohol. For example, a February 2017 study in ​The Lancet Public Health​ found that drinking in moderation does not appear to worsen blood pressure. But for those who drink more than two drinks per day, reducing alcohol can improve blood pressure. Moderate drinking is defined as at most one standard drink per day for women and at most two for men, while heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks per pros of drinking alcohol day for women and four for men (80).

More on Diet & Weight Management

  • Amid the current health and wellness wave, which tends to endorse drinking less, wineries are experiencing a downturn.
  • Moderate drinking may also reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease — both of which can speed up the effects of Alzheimer’s.
  • “But if they are drinking alcohol, this interferes with the antidepressants, so they don’t work.
  • Over time, heavy drinking can cloud your perception of distances and volumes, or slow and impair your motor skills.

However, heavy drinking can have a negative impact on your mood and the function of your brain, heart, and other bodily systems. To determine the likely net outcome of alcohol consumption, the probable risks and benefits for each drinker must be carefully weighed. Incidence also was reduced among women, but only in those consuming low to moderate levels of alcohol. In fact, an increased risk was observed in women consuming more than 28 drinks per week.