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A Drinking Man's Guide to Supplements
Today, alcohol is the most fun way to wreck your health. As a species, we just love the side effects of being lightly poisoned. The root word of intoxicated is, after all, "toxic." Consuming a small amount of this literal toxin is relaxing; consuming a huge amount is deadly. Fun!
Even fitness enthusiasts and health nuts enjoy the occasional drink or three, and that's okay if you don't have any alcoholic tendencies. But booze isn't doing us any favors. Here are a handful of supplements that mitigate the damage of that after-work drink or a wild Saturday night of personality enhancement.
Alcohol and Bodybuilding1920×785 250 KB
The liver converts vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol), its main circulating form. Alcohol damages liver cells, reducing their ability to metabolize vitamin D. Alcohol also stimulates certain liver enzymes that break down vitamin D faster than normal, depleting vitamin D stores. A similar process occurs in the kidneys.
Just a single night of heavy drinking can also alter gut microbiota, indirectly impacting vitamin D metabolism and absorption.
So, if you're going to imbibe, take vitamin D. Just use the microencapsulated form. Remember, a beer-soaked body isn't very good at absorbing or metabolizing vitamin D – you need to "jam it" in there. Microencapsulated vitamin D is formulated with Labrasol, a technology borrowed from drug makers to ensure bioavailability.
Alcohol also irritates the gastrointestinal lining and reduces magnesium and zinc absorption. It can even cause magnesium to shift from the blood into cells, temporarily lowering serum magnesium and making it unavailable for critical functions. A similar redistribution occurs with zinc.
Frequent heavy drinking damages the liver, impairing magnesium and zinc's metabolism and storage. The liver is critical for maintaining mineral balance. Finally, alcohol increases cortisol levels, which promotes magnesium depletion.
You need a significant dose of both minerals, and you need to take the chelated form to battle the absorption issues.
Alcohol consumption triggers systemic inflammation, contributing to organ damage and just about every chronic disease. Resveratrol inhibits the activation of NF-κB, a key inflammatory pathway. This helps reduce inflammation not just in the liver but throughout the body. Resveratrol also supports overall liver function and acts as a cardio-protectant.
Take 600 mg daily using a formula with a specialized delivery system to increase bioavailability.
Aside from his designated driver, curcumin might be the drinker's best friend. Curcumin protects the liver in several ways, including reducing fat accumulation. It also helps extinguish alcohol-induced chronic inflammation, strengthens the gut lining, reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, and enhances nitric oxide production, improving blood vessel health and blood pressure.
Take 400 mg per day using the micellar form (solid lipid curcumin particles). This form is 95 percent more bioavailable than standard curcumin.
Alcohol also reduces protein synthesis, leading to muscle loss over time. By supporting testosterone and reducing cortisol, Longjack helps preserve muscle mass and improve recovery, countering the catabolic effects of alcohol.
For the heavy drinker looking to cut back, Longjack helps regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reducing cortisol levels and balancing stress responses. By lowering cortisol, Longjack improves mood, reduces anxiety, and may help heavy hitters manage stress without turning to the bottle.
Take 300 mg daily of the standardized LJ100 variety.
Enjoy a couple of drinks after work or the occasional weekend of partying? Take these natural compounds to mitigate the negative health effects.
Around 9000 years ago in Jiahu, China, long before the invention of the wheel, some guy discovered booze. He realized that if you let foods like rice, honey, and fruit ferment, the resulting liquid greatly enhances your personality and makes you super interesting at parties. The next morning, he discovered the hangover.Today, alcohol is the most fun way to wreck your health. As a species, we just love the side effects of being lightly poisoned. The root word of intoxicated is, after all, "toxic." Consuming a small amount of this literal toxin is relaxing; consuming a huge amount is deadly. Fun!
Even fitness enthusiasts and health nuts enjoy the occasional drink or three, and that's okay if you don't have any alcoholic tendencies. But booze isn't doing us any favors. Here are a handful of supplements that mitigate the damage of that after-work drink or a wild Saturday night of personality enhancement.
Alcohol and Bodybuilding1920×785 250 KB
1. Vitamin D
Alcohol reduces the body's ability to absorb and metabolize vitamin D into its active forms. Vitamin D is fat-soluble; it needs dietary fat for proper absorption. Booze isn't kind to the pancreas and liver, impairing fat digestion and absorption. This reduces the body's ability to absorb vitamin D from food.The liver converts vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol), its main circulating form. Alcohol damages liver cells, reducing their ability to metabolize vitamin D. Alcohol also stimulates certain liver enzymes that break down vitamin D faster than normal, depleting vitamin D stores. A similar process occurs in the kidneys.
Just a single night of heavy drinking can also alter gut microbiota, indirectly impacting vitamin D metabolism and absorption.
So, if you're going to imbibe, take vitamin D. Just use the microencapsulated form. Remember, a beer-soaked body isn't very good at absorbing or metabolizing vitamin D – you need to "jam it" in there. Microencapsulated vitamin D is formulated with Labrasol, a technology borrowed from drug makers to ensure bioavailability.
2. Magnesium and Zinc
Alcohol depletes these minerals in a couple of different ways. Obviously, alcohol increases pee-pee production, leading to the loss of electrolytes, including magnesium and zinc. Even a single night of enthusiastic drinking results in significant mineral excretion.Alcohol also irritates the gastrointestinal lining and reduces magnesium and zinc absorption. It can even cause magnesium to shift from the blood into cells, temporarily lowering serum magnesium and making it unavailable for critical functions. A similar redistribution occurs with zinc.
Frequent heavy drinking damages the liver, impairing magnesium and zinc's metabolism and storage. The liver is critical for maintaining mineral balance. Finally, alcohol increases cortisol levels, which promotes magnesium depletion.
You need a significant dose of both minerals, and you need to take the chelated form to battle the absorption issues.
3. Fish Oil
Omega-3s (DHA and EPA) have powerful anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular benefits that help counteract the alcohol damage:- Fish oil helps reduce liver inflammation.
- Omega-3s, particularly DHA, reduce brain inflammation, which helps thwart the neurotoxic effects of alcohol.
- Heavy drinking increases blood pressure, triglycerides, and the risk of arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy. Omega-3s reduce triglycerides, improve cholesterol profiles, and stabilize heart rhythms. They also reduce inflammation in blood vessels, improving overall cardiovascular health.
- Alcohol disrupts gut microbiota, increases intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), and promotes gut inflammation. Omega-3s restore gut barrier integrity and reduce inflammation. Fish oil supports a healthy gut microbiome by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria.
- Bonus: If your drinking is getting out of hand, studies show that omega-3s improve mood regulation and reduce impulsivity, which helps you manage cravings and improve mental resilience.
4. Resveratrol and Curcumin
Resveratrol's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and organ-protective properties make it a valuable addition to a drinking man's health regimen.Alcohol consumption triggers systemic inflammation, contributing to organ damage and just about every chronic disease. Resveratrol inhibits the activation of NF-κB, a key inflammatory pathway. This helps reduce inflammation not just in the liver but throughout the body. Resveratrol also supports overall liver function and acts as a cardio-protectant.
Take 600 mg daily using a formula with a specialized delivery system to increase bioavailability.
Aside from his designated driver, curcumin might be the drinker's best friend. Curcumin protects the liver in several ways, including reducing fat accumulation. It also helps extinguish alcohol-induced chronic inflammation, strengthens the gut lining, reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, and enhances nitric oxide production, improving blood vessel health and blood pressure.
Take 400 mg per day using the micellar form (solid lipid curcumin particles). This form is 95 percent more bioavailable than standard curcumin.
5. Longjack (LJ100)
Alcohol suppresses testosterone levels in men and disrupts hormonal balance in both sexes. Longjack (Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat Ali) boosts natural testosterone production.Alcohol also reduces protein synthesis, leading to muscle loss over time. By supporting testosterone and reducing cortisol, Longjack helps preserve muscle mass and improve recovery, countering the catabolic effects of alcohol.
For the heavy drinker looking to cut back, Longjack helps regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reducing cortisol levels and balancing stress responses. By lowering cortisol, Longjack improves mood, reduces anxiety, and may help heavy hitters manage stress without turning to the bottle.
Take 300 mg daily of the standardized LJ100 variety.
6. Other Things That Help
- For additional liver support, try milk thistle, NAC, and ALA.
- Alcohol depletes B vitamins, so take a B-complex supplement.
- Alcohol depletes CoQ10, crucial for heart health. It's worth adding to your arsenal.