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After this founding 21st anniversary, much of society spends significant time experimenting with all the different ways of consuming alcohol.
It might be fair to say that in general it starts with more adventurous ways of drinking – think about everything you’ve cooked up in college – before gradually settling into a sweeter glass of wine with it. a dinner or a beer at a barbecue. As full adults, many people have developed drinking habits that they are comfortable with and (hopefully) complement their lifestyle in healthy ways.
But what happens when adulthood begins to slide into middle age and old age? It is not uncommon for the way we drink to change between 21 and 31. And between 41 and 51? Shouldn’t we continue to adapt as our bodies continue to mature?
We spoke to one of our medical experts, Dr. Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, and got the inside scoop on how you might want to change the way you sip.
It may seem counterintuitive – an adult drink often goes well with an after-dinner break and, as Dr Bohl points out, “drinking can make you drowsy and can even make it easier to fall asleep at night.”
But as you get older, it’s important to maintain a solid sleep schedule, and alcohol can get in the way.
“Alcohol consumption is associated with reduced quality of sleep, including reduced REM sleep,” he says. “Drinking too much or too close to bedtime can therefore have an impact on how well you feel rested the next morning and on your ability to function during the day.”
So if you’re looking to indulge in an after-dinner cocktail, take the time to prepare it early. Or, better yet, make it an aperitif drink!
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There is a bit of a line here, as maintaining a healthy diet is essential if you plan on having a few drinks. But, as Dr. Bohl notes, many drinkers associate alcohol with late-night snacks, which can hamper any weight loss effort.
“As you get older, your metabolism slows down and it becomes easier to gain weight,” he says. “Although it may sound harmless, alcohol is loaded with calories, and the number of calories you consume only increases when you eat a late-night snack.”
Dr. Bohl suggests limiting both the number of drinks and the amount of snacks you have to keep your calorie count normal.
“But remember not to cut off the food completely,” he said. “Replacing food calories with alcoholic calories can lead to malnutrition and harm your health. “
When your metabolism slows down, it processes all types of calorie intake more slowly: food, but also alcohol. Dr. Bohl explains that in addition to slowing down the metabolism, as people get older their bodies have less lean mass and less water.
“Combined, these things can mean that you feel the effects of alcohol a lot more than when you were younger,” he says.
The moral of the story here? Dr Bohl said it best: “Don’t try to drink as much as you did in your 20s. Fewer drinks can have the same effect, and it can be dangerous to drink too much.”
Swap alcohol with this # 1 best drink for boosting your metabolism.
As people get older, it is often not just the number of years they have lived that increases, but also the number of medications they take. High blood pressure, cholesterol — the list goes on, when it comes to diseases that we develop later in life that can be treated with medication.
“But it’s important to remember that there are many drugs that interact with alcohol and should not be taken at the same time, especially drugs as simple as acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol),” says Dr Bohl. . “If you are taking medication, ask your health care provider if it is safe to combine your medications with alcohol.”
This unhealthy habit is something to watch out for at any age: drinking to help cope with depression. Alcohol can provide an escape, but using it to numb any less than desirable feelings is ultimately harmful to mental and physical health. Dr Bohl cites research that has shown that some older people, in particular, drink to help ease their depression. But that could make matters worse.
“Alcohol can actually increase depressive symptoms,” he says, “and can lead to social isolation. If you drink to cope with life’s stressors or in an attempt to improve your mood, consider to consult a mental health professional. instead. “
For even more tips on drinking, read this below:
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