Impacts of Alcohol on Health & How to Create a Mocktail w/ Tea!
As summertime comes into full swing and more social events come to the forefront, so does the increase in alcoholic beverages for many. In this article, we will explore some of the impacts on alcohol and our health and also include your new favorite summertime bevie!
In the short term, alcohol is a depressant and also impacts our brain's ability to function which can lead to impaired decision-making, our mood, and the way we communicate. One of the reasons this happens is that it turns off our prefrontal cortex and leads to impaired decision-making. This could look like overindulging in snacks at a BBQ or maybe telling a friend something that you weren’t quite ready to share yet.
When we drink our body is trying to break down the acetaldehyde which is actually toxic to our bodies cells and can cause damage to our DNA, creating oxidative stress in the body, and over time this can cause chronic issues.
Over longer periods of time, consistent drinking patterns can lead to long-term health problems in the liver, brain, pancreas, and heart. After many years of rather misleading information surrounding alcohol, current research is really proving that even small amounts of alcohol consumption can lead to big impacts on your health.
Even with the current daily recommendations of 2 drinks for men and 1 drink daily for women is truly too much. While many people may cut back by eliminating alcohol during the week and then drinking 2-3 drinks over the weekend, this doesn’t by any means average out. The exposure can still cause damage no matter if it is spread out or not.
We discussed some of the physical ways that alcohol can manifest and cause issues in the body, but one of the things that is often the hardest is the mindset and societal norms around alcohol consumption. They tend to run very deep and many people don’t truly know the degree of impact that it has. They may want to cut back or stop drinking altogether, but fear judgment from others. If you are feeling this way, here are some suggestions on ways you can shift your mindset around alcohol and say no to a drink (if you want to):
- You don't need to drink to have fun or use it as a coping mechanism for stress
- If you are looking to reduce your alcohol intake, try mixing things up with a non-alcoholic version of your favorite! You might be surprised how tasty they are!
- “No, thank you!” is an answer and does not have to be followed by any explanation but you can say things like:
- “I have an early morning tomorrow and don’t sleep well when I have a drink”
- “ I am working on making health changes”
- “ I am not in the mood today/tonight”
Whatever you decide, make sure you give this Non-Alcoholic Mojito a try because it is sure to be one of the most refreshing beverages you make this summer! You get just the right notes of green tea, mint, and ginger in this classic mocktail with a fresh twist!
Green Tea Nojito (1 Serving)
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- Handful of Mint leaves
- 1 tbsp honey simple syrup (if desired)
- Ice
- ½ can/bottle of non-alcoholic ginger beer (ginger soda)
- 4-6 oz Big Heart Green Hibiscus Tea, cooled
Preparation:
- Brew 4-6 oz of BHT Green Hibiscus Tea. Let the tea bag steep for 10 minutes and then remove and allow the tea to cool to at least room temp or cooler.
- In a shaker or separate glass take the juice of 1 lime and muddle it together with mint leaves.
- Add ice and muddled ingredients to Copper mugs or desired glass
- Add ginger beer, tea, and simple syrup to your glass with the muddle ingredients and ice
- Stir all ingredients
- Enjoy!
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