Alcohol and Mineral Deficiency: Bottoms Up, Magnesium Down
Alcohol is the world’s most popular and socially acceptable recreational drug. Drinking can be a way to unwind and relax at the end of the day or a way to socialize. You might enjoy a glass of wine at dinner, a few drinks with friends or even just making the most of a bbq in the back yard with a cold beer on a hot day.
We all know the risks associated with overindulging in alcohol, but having even one drink can take a toll on your body. People don’t seem to mind taking little risks, so that we can enjoy things like alcohol though. The statistics show just how prominent the use of alcohol is worldwide.
A Sampling of Stats:
- The use of alcohol has been traced as far back as 10,000 B.C.
- Profits from the global alcohol beverages industry exceeded $1 trillion in 2014.
- About one person in 20 (of those who drink) is dependent on alcohol.
The Effects of Alcohol on Your Body
Alcohol is classified as a depressant drug. That means it slows down the parts of your brain that affect your thinking and behavior, as well as your breathing and heart rate.
It’s a toxic substance that depresses the central nervous system and has the ability to produce physical and behavioral dependency. It’s the depressant effects of alcohol that cause most of the commonly noticed effects of drinking.
Alcohol can be safe if consumed in moderation; even then it can cause reactions within our body we’re not aware of though. It contains a vast amount of the psychoactive drug ethanol, a depressant which in low doses can cause exhilaration, reduced anxiety, sociability and can make you feel more relaxed and happy. In higher doses, it causes intoxication, unconsciousness, decreased awareness, diminished judgement and motor function and, in extreme cases, death. Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and alcoholism.
Drinking alcohol plays an important social role in many cultures, so most countries have laws regulating its production, sale and consumption.
When the drinks go down, so does magnesium
Most people are magnesium deficient. Magnesium deficiency is everywhere… it’s very difficult to avoid! It’s hard to get enough magnesium from your diet and all too easy to lower your levels by consuming substances like coffee or alcohol.
The earliest account of magnesium deficiency in alcoholics was reported back in 1934.
A study carried out in Finland in 1987, found that deficiency in magnesium is prevalent among alcoholics. Another study in the United States in 1991, also found a correlation between alcoholism and magnesium deficiency.
Renal magnesium waste is one of the main reasons that most alcoholics are magnesium deficient. So…what the heck does that mean? Alcohol acts as a magnesium diuretic; it leads to a forceful increase in the urinary excretion of magnesium. Experts have claimed that your kidneys excrete as much as 260% more magnesium within just a few minutes of consuming alcohol. Repeated consumption of alcohol depletes your body’s stores of magnesium, which is why many alcoholics have little to no magnesium left in their bodies.
If you maintain a healthy, magnesium-rich diet and only drink moderately, you shouldn’t be at risk.
Moderate drinking is defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
One drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine.
Drinking more than this may put you at risk of magnesium deficiency and other health problems associated with alcohol consumption.
People who tend to drink heavily often have poor diets as well, meaning they may not be getting the nutrients they need to meet their magnesium requirements. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that alcoholics may get as many as half of their calories from alcohol, which provides no nutrient to the body. Plus, alcohol negatively affects digestion and the use and storage of nutrients, it decreases the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and interferes with the breakdown of nutrients into molecules the body can use.
Not only that, but alcohol consumption can actually damage the stomach and intestinal lining, which prevents the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream, leading to a deficiency in magnesium, but also in other nutrients such as zinc and vitamins A, C, D and E.
Magnesium makes the world go round
Magnesium is the ninth most abundant element in the universe. It’s one of the most important minerals we consume for organ function and yet most people are deficient in it. It’s a mineral used by every organ in your body, especially your heart, muscles and kidneys. By some estimates, up to 80% of Americans are not getting enough magnesium and may be deficient.
The truth is, you need this crucial mineral. Without it, you suffer. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:
- reduced sleep and insomnia
- irritability
- joint pain
- nervousness or anxiety
- low energy
- muscle aches
- depression
Eating foods rich in magnesium is always recommended as part of your regular diet. Some foods containing high levels of magnesium are:
- kelp
- almonds
- cashews
- brazil nuts
- pecans
- raw fruits and vegetables
It’s not just alcohol that can strip your body of magnesium. Other things to try and avoid, or at least minimize, are refined sugar, fried foods, coffee, soda and tobacco.
Now, this isn’t to say you can’t enjoy a glass of wine here and there, but we recommend doing so in moderation and maintaining a healthy diet to ensure your nutrients are being restored.
Alcohol in moderation has a few benefits, and has been well studied. A glass of wine can cut down your risk of cardiovascular disease. Some studies show that an occasional drink, whether it’s beer, wine or liquor, can assist in keeping colds at bay and even strengthen your brain.
If you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, we recommend that you take a magnesium supplement as part of your daily routine. A magnesium supplement is always a good idea, no matter your lifestyle. Some people find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day, and taking magnesium in pill form is often not effective as the mineral is not easily absorbed by the gut. A better way to supplement with magnesium is to use a topical spray.
That’s where our EASE magnesium comes in.
Each bottle of EASE is filled to the top with nothing but 100% pure iMCH™, our all-natural, bioavailable magnesium. Delivering 27.2mg of magnesium per spray, this powerful supplement is easily absorbed into the skin, enters the bloodstream and goes to directly to work in your body, eliminating aches and pains, alleviating stress and anxiety, aiding digestion, ensuring deeper and more satisfying sleep and leaving you feeling revitalized and strong.
Magnesium on the move! Forget the pills, just spray and go. It doesn’t have to be a hassle. It absorbs quickly and leaves no mess.
If you think that you may have a problem with alcohol, we strongly encourage you to speak with your physician and seek help.
Resources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3544909
http://www.livestrong.com/article/340861-magnesium-deficiency-alcohol/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7847587
http://blog.wellnessfx.com/2013/07/31/three-main-causes-of-magnesium-deficiency-part-2/
http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/health_information/a_z_mental_health_and_addiction_information/alcohol/Pages/about_alcohol.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/8-reasons-drinking-alcohol-actually-good-you
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