How much alcohol is too much?
I know there are a lot of you who don’t want to hear this (and might stop reading now). You enjoy your glass of wine in the evening and even though you kinda think you should give it up in the back of your head, it’s just too good. I see you. But as a health and wellness professional, it’s also my job, to be honest about what I know, what new research is finding, and what really is best for your health So here’s the news: An extremely large study has just found that drinking alcohol is associated with reduced brain volume—even with as little as one drink per day. The study compared questionnaires about alcohol intake with brain MRIs from 36,000 adults in the UK Biobank. By about the age of 50, the study found: Going from zero to one alcohol unit per day (about half a beer) was linked with brain changes equivalent to about 6 months of aging. Going from one to two alcohol units per day (about a pint of beer or a glass of wine) was linked with brain changes equivalent to 2 years of aging. The difference between zero and four alcohol units per day was equivalent to 10 years of aging. So, the effect of drinking more is not linear—it’s exponential. Each additional drink has even more extreme effects than the one before it. Some organizations recommend that women consume no more than one alcoholic beverage per day and men two. But according to this study—even that much will age your brain. Whatever your reasons for drinking, there are so many ways we can support you in breaking the habit. Whether it’s nutrition, supplementation, or other supportive therapies—we are here to help you become your healthiest self. No judgment. Just caring.
