The months are flying by and I can’t believe the year is coming to a close. We’re in the thrones of the holiday season and you may find yourself attending more parties and hence drinking more glasses of wine or cocktails.

Personally, I just can’t handle wine the way I used to. One drink and I’m hungover the whole next day.
 
Sadly, as we age our bodies become less efficient at breaking down alcohol as it once did.
 
For me, drinking alcohol simply isn’t worth the consequences most of the time. But when I do indulge, I make sure that I take extra measures to combat some of the negative effects of alcohol and I’m going to share them with you in this email.Let me get straight to it. I’m not here to make you feel bad about having a drink or two!  I do not believe in perfection, but rather a 90/10 or 80/20 approach and I encourage you to do the same. On the other hand, as a nutritionist, I certainly am not promoting consumption of alcohol as it does affect your health.
 
My mission is to educate you on how your body works
so that you can make the best decisions to support your health and hormones.
 

How does alcohol affects your health and hormones?
Alcohol affects your blood sugar which in turn impacts your insulin (your fat storage hormone) and cortisol production and ultimately affecting your adrenals and hormonal cascade.  If you are wanting to lose weight, you should aim to cut out alcohol for at least 4-6 weeks.
Alcohol uses up antioxidants like Vitamin A, C & E. Your liver needs antioxidants to break down any toxin. Alcohol puts a greater demand on your liver, which may leave you vitamin and mineral deficient.
Alcohol raises your estrogen levels. In fact, studies show that regular consumption (1-2 glasses a couple days per week) can increase your risk of breast cancer by 250%.  Yikes!
Alcohol affects your sleep and cravings. Blood sugar is the culprit here.  When your blood sugar drops, your cravings for refined sugar or carbohydrate increases. This is why we find ourselves making unhealthy food choices while we’re drinking and  it bleeds even into the next day.

So, yes you can say that alcohol is not a girl’s best friend.

But there are things you can do to help combat the affects of alcohol on your body if you do chose to partake in some holiday cheer.
  1. Never drink on an empty stomach.To help combat blood sugar issues, always pair alcohol with a healthy fat, fiber and protein meal or snack. This will help stabilize your blood sugar and its negative affects on your body. Order some guacamole or nuts to snack on.
  2. Drink more water. Hydrating before and after each alcoholic drink will help with any dehydrating consequences. Aim to drink one full glass of water after each alcoholic drink. Coconut water is great for replenishing your electrolytes (and hangovers).
  3. Add more antioxidants. Bump up your intake of whole plant foods. Things like (yes, you guessed it) vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds. We’re going for quantity here.Try to include them in every meal and even most (if not all) of your snacks especially the day before and after your party! Eat your veggies roasted, raw or in a smoothie!  I also like to double up on my Juice Plus capsules for extra support.
  4. Give your liver some love by drinking some Dandelion tea or head to your local juice joint and ask for their best detox juice or smoothie. Lemon water and apple cider vinegar water is also very supportive for your liver – bonus points if you add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.

Try to incorporate some of the tips above – your body, hormones and liver will thank you!  Drink organic wine and remember that a serving is 3 ounces!!

Want more?
 
You may be interested in my 5 Steps to Detox Your Body for Healthy Hormones Guide – Get it here!Cheers!Coach Chris