Alcohol: Friend or Foe?

I am going to ask for your forgiveness upfront. Some of you won't be affected by this post one bit; for others I am about to put a major damper on your weekend plans. I promise you it is not because I want to be a killjoy and stop you from having fun, just the opposite. I love you all sooooo much and want you all to live fertile, fit, and fabulously full and fun lives. Sometimes that might mean saying something that is not popular or fun to hear, but it is the truth and ultimately it is what we all need to know to live the healthiest and happiest lives we can. Now that that is out of the way, on to our topic: alcohol and women's health, weight, and fertility.

Drinking in moderate amounts is by no means detrimental to our health. In some cases small amounts of certain alcoholic beverages are actually good for our health. It's when we go over the recommended amount that we will run into problems. Just how much is suggested for women? 1 drink in a 24 hour period. It's not too much more for the gents; their recommended amount is 2 drinks in 24 hours. What is one drink anyway?

• 1 drink= 1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor or spirits
• 1 drink= 5 oz of wine
• 1 drink= 8 oz of malt liquor
• 1 drink= 12 oz of beer

Even if you can drink more than that without feeling the affects, excess amounts of alcohol can:

• Impair judgment
• Cause excess weight gain
• Deplete bones
• Raise triglycerides
• Raise blood pressure
• Lead to liver disease
• Cause vitamin deficiencies
• Lead to anemia
• Impair fertility
• End in alcohol poisoning which can result in brain damage and even death

So maybe you usually drink more than 1 drink (or 2 if you are a guy), maybe 4 or more is more your speed. Find a way to bring the amount down. Next time you go out, reduce your drinks by 1. Have water or juice instead. Then next time bring it down again until you reach the recommended amount.

Please drink responsibly.