Do you want to stop drinking;7 reasons that will encourage you

If you’ve made it your goal to stop drinking this year, know that you’ve made an excellent decision for your health. After all, the harms of alcoholism are many, and they are all well known. But, for those who find it difficult to achieve this goal, it is always worth reinforcing the reasons for giving up alcohol.

Do you want to stop drinking in 2024? 7 reasons that will encourage you

Photo: Shutterstock / Saúde em Dia

In this sense, it is worth highlighting that among the factors that cause the most harm to health is alcohol consumption. This is because alcoholic beverages are toxic to the body, and can lead to the emergence of various problems, points out nutritionist Dr. Marcella Garcez, director and professor at the Brazilian Association of Nutrology (ABRAN).

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With this in mind, experts from different areas list reasons why you should reduce your alcohol consumption in 2023. Check it out:

1 – Alcohol reduces metabolism

The liver is responsible for digesting alcoholic beverages. However, this organ is also responsible for fat metabolism. So, when you drink alcohol, you end up adding another task to the organ’s function.

“This way, your liver cannot process the fat as quickly and efficiently, as it will also be working to expel the alcohol. As a consequence, the metabolism slows down, even leading to the accumulation of fat”, explains the Dr Marcella.

2 – Drinking damages the appearance of the skin

Stopping drinking is an effective remedy for the skin, as the loss of water caused by alcohol affects skin health, causing dryness and peeling of the skin. The skin also tends to become red after drinking alcoholic beverages, as they dilate the vessels.

“In addition, wrinkles become more visible, the skin becomes more oily and rosacea worsens. The production of free radicals also increases after drinking alcohol, which favors premature aging and sagging. Three drinks are enough to make us feel the effects on the skin”, explains Dr. Cintia Guedes, dermatologist and member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD).

3 – Alcohol promotes damage to hair

Alcoholic beverages, if consumed frequently and in excessive quantities, can also impact the health of your hair. “The main consequence of excessive alcohol intake for hair is dryness and hair breakage. Furthermore, excessive alcohol consumption can also cause malnutrition and be responsible for hair loss”, warns the dermatologist.

4 – Causes infertility in women

For women who still want to have a pregnancy, stopping drinking beforehand is essential. At least that’s what a recent study showed, the results of which pointed to the impact of alcohol on female fertility.

“In the second half of the menstrual cycle, even moderate alcohol consumption is related to reduced chances of pregnancy, according to the work”, explains obstetrician gynecologist Dr. Fernando Prado, specialist in Human Reproduction, member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM ) and clinical director of Neo Vita.

According to the doctor, drinking alcohol affects the processes involved in ovulation, so that no eggs are released during the ovulatory part of the cycle. Additionally, alcohol can affect the ability of a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus, decreasing the chances of pregnancy.

5 – Alcohol consumption promotes the emergence of kidney stones

Alcohol in large quantities and its metabolization products (such as acetaldehyde, NADH and free radicals) can cause changes in kidney function, explains nephrologist Dr. Caroline Reigada, specialist in Intensive Care Medicine at the Brazilian Intensive Care Medicine Association. “They cause the kidneys to become less able to filter the blood, as well as affecting their ability to maintain the right amount of water in the body,” she says.

According to her, population-based studies suggest that alcohol consumption above moderation limits may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population. Recent research has also shown an increase in kidney stones in women, which is associated with smoking and alcohol intake, which did not occur in previous decades.

“Another important factor caused by alcohol is kidney overload. Ethanol disrupts the function of the antidiuretic hormone, which ensures that the body does not lose too much water, causing the kidney to stop concentrating urine, losing more water than usual. As the drink causes the body to make a great effort to expel the substance, it must be diluted in water and eliminated in the form of urine, causing dehydration. Furthermore, if the liver is compromised, kidney damage may occur. called hepatorenal syndrome”, highlights Dr. Caroline.

6 – Circulatory problems

By promoting dehydration, alcohol, in addition to increasing the incidence of cramps and muscle pain, can also cause the body to retain more fluids. So this is yet another reason to stop drinking.

“As a result, we become more swollen and the pressure on the veins and arteries increases, which can contribute to the emergence of vascular problems such as varicose veins and thrombosis”, highlights vascular surgeon Dr. Aline Lamaita, member of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Surgery Vascular.

7 – Alcohol contributes to the emergence of oral diseases

Another structure affected by water loss caused by alcohol is the mouth and teeth. “The dehydration process caused by alcohol causes a decrease in saliva production. As a result, we are more susceptible to the development of diseases such as cavities, gingivitis and dental erosion, since one of the main functions of saliva is precisely to protect the teeth and mucous membranes oral”, says Dr. Hugo Lewgoy, dental surgeon and PhD in Dentistry from USP.