How Alcohol Affects Your Health

Think about those drinks when you're out next time. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, which slows down the communication between the brain cells. The limbic system, which controls emotions, is also affected. This is why alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions. The prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with reasoning and judgment, also slows in response to alcohol, leading to more impulsive behavior and poor judgment. At higher doses, the cerebellum, which plays a role in muscle activity, will also be impacted, leading to dizziness and loss of balance.
Moderation is definitely the key here. "Moderate" intake of alcohol would be a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 12-once beer, or a 1 ounce hard liquor. Ideally, eliminating all forms of alcohol would be best. Not always possible but ideal. Even if it provides some benefit, it's unlikely that alcohol will add much to an otherwise healthy diet and lifestyle.

Good news is exercise can help! Research suggests exercise can go a long way toward mitigating the health risks, including reducing your risk for heart disease. This makes sense when considering the fact that exercise may be one of the most effective strategies for protecting and strengthening the heart. So much so, research shows regular exercise can significantly lower health care costs if you have heart disease.

Source & Research Data - click here.

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