The Effects of Alcohol on Women's Health

Women like to go out for a drink with the buddies just as much as the men do, but they might be in for more than just a nice buzz when all is said and done. In fact, the effects of alcohol on women’s health might come as a shock to some. It’s definitely fun to cut loose and have a cold one, but if it negatively affects your health then it’s probably best to stay away from it, or at least educate yourself on what those health effects are.

The Wonderful World of Weight Gain

Ladies, if you’re watching your figure or monitoring your health then you might want to think about this: there are about 125 calories in a single glass of red wine, and around 159 in just one beer. Having two or three drinks might not sound like that big of a deal at first, but over time it can wreak havoc on your waistline and your overall wellbeing. This is especially true if you make drinking a regular habit, or if you pair it with an unhealthy diet and chronic physical inactivity. The negative effects of alcohol on women’s health are further amplified by the fact that obesity is a leading cause of heart disease, which is the number one killer of women today.

DNA Rewired by Proxy

Perhaps one of the greatest and most surprising effects of alcohol is the fact that it can actually change the structure of a person’s genetic code. According to recent studies, moderate to heavy drinking can cause a buildup of oxidative stress. This particular type of stress does direct damage to your DNA cells, which has mysterious effects considering that the human genome is nowhere near fully mapped. For women especially, this can be rather dangerous and detrimental during the childbearing years.

Cutting You Off

Did you know that alcohol consumption can actually decrease your life expectancy? It’s true. At least 10% of all adult deaths occur because someone was using or abusing alcohol. This statistic comes straight from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If that weren’t enough to slow you down at the bar, then consider this: the overall effects of alcohol on your body are wholly negative, meaning that nothing good will ever come of it aside from a fun night out with your friends. Indeed, you should all think about activity alternatives if you want to remain as healthy as possible.