Many of my clients are a little confused about how much they can drink without damaging their health. We often hear claims how a moderate amount of alcohol can actually improve health.
Quite often, the health benefits are from certain ingredients like the polyphenolic bioflavinoids found in grape skins. In this instance, you can eat the grape skins without having to drink a bottle or red wine.
On a physiological level the amount you can drink without reducing your health is none! Now I don’t mean to be a spoil sport and I am not telling anybody to give up alcohol. However, it is my job to educate you and allow you to make the best decision for you.
I also think that completely depriving yourself of something you really want can reduce your health too. Especially on a psychological level.
With that in mind it is important to understand that alcohol affects all your hormonal functions, especially insulin levels, causes leaky gut syndrome which is likely to lead to food intolerance, poisons your brain and nervous system, causes obesity, mental problems, increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancers of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, breast, pancreas and lungs to name but a few.
My general advice is to eliminate alcohol completely. If however, this would totally ruin your life, try reducing the amount you drink to a minimum. For instance, some people may restrict themselves to drinking at weekends and no more than 5 units of alcohol per drinking session.
Many people also entertain as part of their business. Just remember your brain’s power is also greatly reduced under the influence and you could ruin a good business relationship or lose a business deal. Ask yourself whether you really to have to drink alcohol to entertain clients.
In terms of eating right for your metabolic type, alcohol is considered a carbohydrate. Therefore, if you drink alcohol with a meal, you need to eat less carbohydrates or more fat and protein to balance the meal. Never drink alcohol before a meal. It will dramatically raise your insulin levels which will cause you to feel hungrier, order too much food and store more of it as fat in your cells. This is why many restaurants offer you a drink at the bar and bread before you order.
As many of you know I have been alcohol-free since 2004 and I can honestly say it is like putting a twin-turbo on your car. It feels great!