Two years ago I made a decision that fundamentally changed the course of my health, mindset and life: I gave up alcohol because of learning how to change my mindset to stop drinking from James Swanwick (my review). Podcast interview with James here) At that time I just realized that I had a mental illness, fog, low anxiety and early morning. I feel there is an intuitive pull towards a cleaner life and the result of Stop drinking There is nothing short of a miracle.
But lately, I’ve got a big idea that makes my choice completely valid.
I’m listening to the Huberman Lab Podcast in-depth with Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neurologist at Stanford Medical School. He clearly breaks down what alcohol – even small to moderate – does to the brain and body. Listening to the hard science behind what I feel intuitively is calming
If you are curious or just wondering if a glass of wine that night was really harmless, then you should watch this video.
(Embed video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkS1pkKpILY)
This is the greatest scientific perception I have ever taken from Dr. Huberman’s analysis, and it is clear why walking out of a bottle is the ultimate biohack.
1. Alcohol is a toxin that weakens the brain.
We often hear that a glass of red wine is good for the heart because of resveratrol. Dr. Huberman dismantles this myth. To get enough resveratrol from alcohol to benefit your health, you need to drink in moderation.
In contrast, the reality of ethanol (the alcohol we drink) is clear:
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It is a cell toxin: Because alcohol is both water and fat-soluble, it passes freely into all the cells and tissues of your body, including through the blood-brain barrier.
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Toxins: Your liver converts ethanol into highly toxic molecules Acetal DayWhich indiscriminately destroys and kills cells.
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Brain shrinkage: A large UK Biobank study of more than 30,000 adults found that even moderate to moderate alcohol consumption (just one or two glasses a day) leads to a decrease in the neocortex, which in turn shrinks your gray and white brain.
2. The illusion of stress relief and “anxiety”
How many times have you heard people say, “I need a drink to relax”? I used to say it myself. But science shows that alcohol does just the opposite.
Regular alcohol consumption alters the neural circuitry between your brain and your body, especially the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). When you drink alcohol regularly, the basic levels of cortisol (stress hormone) increase.
What does this mean for you:
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You feel more stressed and anxious when you Not at all. Drink.
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Your resilience to daily stress decreases dramatically.
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Feelings of anxiety after drinking – often referred to as “anxiety” – are a direct result of increased cortisol and disturbing hormones.
Stopping 2 years ago not only got rid of my runny nose. It relieves my daily stress. I finally felt emotionally controlled without the need for substances to force me to rest.
3. Destroy the intestinal-liver-brain axis
We all know that alcohol is used in hospitals to kill surface germs because it kills bacteria. Well, when you drink it, it acts the same way on your digestive system.
Alcohol cleanses the key healthy bacteria in your gut microbes. This damage causes your intestinal lining to compromise (leaky bowel syndrome), allowing bad bacteria to run into your bloodstream. Combined with the inflammatory markers released by your liver as it is difficult to digest, this toxin creates massive inflammation in your body.
Ironically, this inflammation reaches the brain and actively disrupts the neural circuits that control the stimuli that actually make you hungry. More Alcohol
4. The Myth of “Nightcap” and Pseudosleep
If you used to drink a glass of wine or beer to help you fall asleep, then you really do not really rest. “When alcohol is present in your brain and your bloodstream, the architecture of your sleep is completely disrupted,” Dr. Huberman said.
Alcohol inhibits deep sleep in slow waves and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which are two important stages for mental and physical recovery. Instead of real sleep, alcohol reabsorption causes what sleep scientists call “pseudosleep.” You are immersing yourself in a low-lying canyon where you wake up several times a night without realizing it. This scientific fact perfectly explains why I used to wake up feeling completely tired and why my morning is now full of endless clear energy.
5. Destroy your hormones (increased estrogen)
The side effects of alcohol are how it blocks your hormones. Dr. Huberman explained that the solvent of alcohol increases an enzyme called Fragrance.
Aromatase is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Whether you are a man or a woman, alcohol accelerates this metabolism throughout many tissues in your body.
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For men: Abnormal increase in estrogen can lead to decreased libido, increased fat storage in the body and even the growth of breast tissue (gynecology).
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For women: This hormonal disruption is strongly associated with a significant increase in estrogen-related cancers. In fact, Dr. Huberman noted that consuming just 10 grams of alcohol a day (about a glass) can increase the risk of breast cancer by 4 to 13%.
6. Patience traps
Tolerance is not a sign of honor. It is a sign of nerve damage. When you first start drinking, you get a rapid increase in dopamine and serotonin (chemicals that feel good), then slow down.
As you develop tolerance, the “good mood” window decreases, while negative and depressing effects last longer. You end up drinking more and more alcohol to reach the basic level of feeling “okay” while punishing your body with higher levels of acetaldehyde.
The good news: your body can be healed
Listening to this podcast, my greatest perception is deep gratitude to myself for the past. By choosing to quit two years ago, I gave myself time to heal.
Dr. Huberman points out that after 2 to 6 months of complete fasting, the neural circuits associated with behavior, habits, and agitation may return to normal. You can actively repair your gut microbes by incorporating low-sugar fermented foods (such as kimchi and sauerkraut) and intentionally using cold exposure to help boost dopamine naturally.
If you’re been on the fence about your relationship with alcohol, let science be your sign. There are no biological benefits to alcohol, but the physical and mental rewards of leaving it are limitless.
If you are ready to heal your brain, regain your energy and change your life, find out more about How to stop drinking And join a community that truly supports your new lifestyle.
