Drink moderately to celebrate a merry and healthy holiday (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

The Holidays are here again and for many of us, the festive spirit is not complete without raising a glass or two of our favorite alcoholic libation! Before we pop the cork, here’s a reminder why we should keep alcohol consumption in check over the holidays. In the United States, more than 14,000 people die from alcohol related liver disease each year. Alcohol consumption has been linked to liver inflammation, and several studies have revealed that women are at a higher risk to develop alcoholic hepatitis than men. The dangers of alcohol overuse have also proven to cause heart disease and for women, it increases their vulnerability to breast cancer.

Alcohol intake is especially unsafe for people with hepatitis. Healthy people with no liver disease should also be wary of the danger alcohol may pose to our liver.

The liver is a complex organ that is responsible for breaking toxins, metabolizing sugar and storing fats. The majority of the blood that flows from the digestive tract is received by the liver. Since alcohol absorbs into our blood, it also moves through the liver. Processing alcohol takes much work for our liver as it detoxifies about eighty percent of the alcohol that we drink. The liver also processes the sugar in alcohol, most of which remains stored in the body’s mid-section as fats and is not converted to energy. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to damaged liver tissue, and may eventually lead to impaired liver function or worse- liver failure.

Not everyone is willing to deprive themselves of the joys of social drinking during the holiday season, nor does everyone need to; but alcohol intake should be kept to a minimum. Also, we can always choose healthier and tasty options over cocktails. Think about choosing a zesty concoction of your favorite juice mixed with seltzer or perhaps a warm blend of berries and herbal tea. You can always experiment with recipes for mock champagne with ginger ale, pineapple juice and white grape juice, or a tornado twist with cranberry-raspberry juice with lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage.

Should you do decide to drink at your Christmas dinner or a New Year’s party, be mindful to drink in moderation. Cheers!

By Toni Bacala