The Gut-Feeling Consequences of Drinking Alcohol
Ever wonder what alcohol does to your gut? You might know that drinking alcohol can be bad for your liver, but it can also seriously mess with your digestive system. Let’s break down how alcohol affects your gut in a way that’s easy to understand.
Your gut is home to a mix of good and bad bacteria that help you digest food and keep your body healthy. When you consume alcohol, especially over a long and consistent period of time, it can mess up this balance. This disruption, known as dysbiosis, leads to too much bad bacteria and not enough good ones. This imbalance can make you feel bloated, result in weight fluctuations, cause digestive problems, and even lead to more serious health issues.
When you consume alcohol, your liver may make extra acetate, a substance that bacteria in your gut love to feast on. This can also lead to overgrowth of harmful bacteria, further disturbing the balance in your gut and potentially leading to more severe health issues.
We all know that alcohol is a toxin. What does our body do when it comes in contact with a toxin? It mounts an inflammatory response! Alcohol causes inflammation, starting in the gastrointestinal tract. This means your body’s immune system is on high alert, which can damage your organs over time. Chronic inflammation is linked to serious conditions like liver disease, some cancers, and even neurological disorders.
Your liver produces bile acids that help digest fat and balance your gut bacteria. Drinking alcohol can throw off this balance. If bile acid metabolism is altered, it can contribute to dysbiosis and more gut problems but mostly is known for causing changes in bowel habits such as nasty diarrhea. Individuals can experience looser stools because the ability of the body to digest foods is altered not just from the gut bacteria becoming imbalanced, but also because of an imbalance of bile acids.
The problems in your gut can spread to other parts of your body. For instance, chronic inflammation from your gut can affect your brain, leading to anxiety and other mood disorders. Imbalances in the gut may also affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections, illnesses, etc.
Understanding how alcohol affects your gut is crucial because it highlights why it’s important to pay attention to your alcohol consumption. Alcohol doesn’t just hurt your liver—it creates a domino effect that impacts your entire body.
So, next time you’re thinking about reaching for that extra drink, remember that it’s not just your liver that takes a hit. Your gut and overall health are at stake too! Stay informed and take care of your gut!
Coach Amelia
