Alcohol

Cure or Poison

Past benefit of alcohol

President Zachary Taylor, King Henry V of England, Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV, ten of thousands Confederate and Union soldiers in the American Civil War, and countless individuals died of diarrhea/dysentery throughout history. Dysentery was a leading cause of death until the twentieth century due to lack of clean water and food. Alcohol is now a known antiseptic and disinfectant. Therefore, it conferred survival advantage to our ancestors. However, its benefit, during a time of easy access to clean water and food, is questionable. Therefore, alcohol has revealed its ugly head in our age of abundance.

Modern problem of alcohol

Chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver disease, cardiovascular complication, mental instability and other modern illnesses.

Therefore and ironically, we are victims of our own success. Our genes are not ready for an age of abundance. We have to learn to control our cravings.

These four strategies can help those who drink alcohol and want to cut back on drinking:

• Set limits. Decide how often and how much you can drink.

• Count your drinks. Use an app on your mobile device to help.

• Manage your “triggers.” If certain people, places, or activities tempt you to drink more than you planned, you can avoid those triggers.

• Find support. Ask for support from a friend, family member, healthcare provider, or someone else who will support your choice to drink less.

Note: Not drinking at all may be the best option for some people, including people who are pregnant or might be pregnant, those taking certain drugs or medications, or people who are recovering from an alcohol use disorder or cannot control their alcohol intake.

Letting go

Change is hard and letting go of alcohol is even more difficult. So I urge that you read my snippet about letting go to get a head start.

Thank you for reading.

---