The 9 Worst Drinking Habits for Your Body
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Loading... - Lotta Koskinen
- 19 Jul 2022
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Indulging in a fountain drink or even treating yourself to a milkshake once in a while is no big deal. A few cocktails with co-workers at the bi-weekly happy hour shouldn't do any major harm. And who doesn't love an occasional fruit smoothie in the morning? But if these small choices become daily habits, you might begin to see signs of chaos happening throughout your body.
Your diet isn't just about the foods you eat. Drinks—and not just the alcoholic kind—can play an important part in your overall health as well. Unhealthy drinking habits can affect things like your weight, heart health, liver, mental health, and for some, even athletic performance.
Luckily, there's no need to panic. With the help of a wide range of health and medical experts, we're doing a deep dive into some of the worst drinking habits to avoid, so you can make the most informed choices about what you put in your body.
Regularly overconsuming alcohol
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but you likely already know that consuming alcohol regularly is one of the body's biggest culprits for damage (if not the biggest). There have been endless streams of studies and research done on the harmful effects of drinking alcohol that have found many correlations with overall health.
When you drink an excessive amount of alcohol, just about every part of your body is impacted. A high alcohol intake has been linked to long-term health risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, digestive problems, higher risk of cancer, weakened immune system, as well as memory and mental health problems, according to the CDC.
The main component of alcohol that triggers the body's functionality is called ethanol. This simple molecule is actually not so simple to metabolize or break down, which causes the formation of harmful compounds in the body and the feeling of intoxication we're all familiar with.
In moderation, there is nothing wrong with responsibly enjoying your favorite cocktails and beers. And even though there is no universally accepted standard for what constitutes a healthy intake of alcohol, consuming five or more drinks at a time is considered to be heavy or binge drinking.
Drinking diet beverages
In an attempt to consume less sugar and calories throughout the day, many people turn to diet beverages. However, drinking diet soda regularly can be more harmful than you may think, especially if you're trying to lose weight. Read More...
