3 Reasons Why Alcohol Affects Women Differently To Men
Does alcohol affect women differently to men? Yes. If you’ve suspected alcohol is broken down differently in women’s bodies you’d be right. There are 3 main differences in the way women and men are affected by alcohol. It comes down to hormones, body fat and metabolizing enzymes. What’s scary is that women become dependent on alcohol faster than men too. Let’s take a look.
1. Women have more body fat than men
In most cases, women have more body fat than men. This means our body contains less water than men (as body fat contains little water). Less water means less ability to dilute the alcohol that we consume. We retain a higher component of alcohol in our bodies and for longer.
2. Metabolizing enzymes
Women have a lower level of the key metabolizing enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) which is what helps our body to break down and eliminate alcohol. Consequently, a larger amount of the alcohol we consume enters our bloodstream.
3. Fluctuating hormones
Our fluctuating hormone levels mean we react differently to the same amount of alcohol at differing times of the month. Alcohol sets in faster when estrogen levels are higher. Ever wondered why on one occasion you can drink 3 glasses and feel fine and another night you have the same amount and barely remember getting home and suffer the most awful hangover the next day? That’s all related to our estrogen levels that month. This is only enhanced as we enter perimenopause and our hormone levels become even more erratic.
Women become dependent on booze faster than men
Women’s chemistry means we become dependent on alcohol much faster than men. A fact that was apparent even back in 1939 when the Big Book for AA was written! But it’s a slow and insidious dependency that starts with a nightly wine ‘to take the edge off’ which then leads to 2 and before we know it, we are drinking a bottle or more because our tolerance has increased.
Alcohol-related diseases – let’s compare the sexes
Liver Disease: The risk of cirrhosis and other alcohol-related liver diseases is higher for women than for men.
Impact on the Brain: Alcohol-related cognitive decline and shrinkage of the brain develop more quickly for women than for men.
Impact on the Heart: Women who drink excessively are at increased risk for damage to the heart muscle at lower levels of consumption and over fewer years of drinking than men.
Breast and other Cancers: Alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer in the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon. For women, drinking is also associated with breast cancer, even at low levels of consumption.
What about Big Alcohol’s message just for women?
Women are also battling a different fight than men waged by Big Alcohol’s marketing machine. Big Alcohol sends the message that women need alcohol as self-care. It’s widely justified in Mummy Wine Culture, for instance, that “taking the edge off” a day with the kids is necessary and normal. Men are given the message that alcohol is for celebrations, not to take care of themselves. This insidious messaging is pushed around social media by women themselves. Doesn’t seem fair? It’s not.
Xx Sarah
P.S. Did you know giving up alcohol for just 30 days has a massive impact on your liver? With the liver playing a role in 500 vital processes, you give your body a better chance at removing contaminants, converting food nutrients and storing vitamins and minerals. Along with better sleep, mood and hydration. If you’d like to join my upcoming July 30-Day Alcohol Free Challenge, you can find out more HERE!
To join my global community of women intent on changing their relationship with alcohol, click here: The Women’s Wellbeing Collective
To find out more about my 1:1 coaching services, go HERE.
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