Nonalcoholic beverages that may still offer a bit of a “buzz” are popping up in stores and on menus all over the Southeast. Wine bars serve nonalcoholic sauvignon blancs and sparkling whites, bars mix up spirit-free cocktails, breweries ferment nonalcoholic beer – and so many of these options are now found in-store and online.
It’s good timing, because according to the World Health Organization, no amount of alcohol is healthy. While plenty of doctors say a drink now and then is fine for most individuals, it does carry risks. And earlier reports that drinking wine is good for the heart have since been dismissed.
“Alcohol is considered a
“Drinking any amount of alcohol increases cancer risk over time across all types of cancer. Alcohol also affects your liver directly. When you drink alcohol, your body has to process that alcohol, and it can’t perform any other function while it does. It also reduces metabolic rate because the body is trying to get rid of it – your body sees it as a toxin.”
The ever-expanding nonalcoholic product lineup is a fun alternative for those who are trying to reduce or eliminate alcohol intake.
That lineup includes a list of beverages that contain adaptogens or hemp-based CBD and THC, many of which advertise that buzzy, calming effect that alcohol offers – without the alcohol.
So what should you keep in mind when revising your alcohol intake? Do those infused drinks actually work, and are they good for you? Spatola weighs in.
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Q: Do you recommend giving up alcohol completely for better health?
A: If my patients are drinking, I give them ways to help them drink less. I’m realistic about that. There are ways to extend beverages, and it’s important to make sure to drink water in between alcoholic drinks. I say, try to have alcohol-free days because alcohol will affect the body – metabolism, organs – while your system processes it for 24 to 36 hours. So if you drink every night, it lingers in your system. Give your body a break.
Q: Is it psychologically healthy to replace one drinking habit with another – like swapping a daily drink of alcohol for a daily nonalcoholic drink?
A: It depends on how someone is treating the behavior. If someone is drinking every night and it’s more about the ritual than the alcohol itself, the sitting-down-with-the-drink is the gateway to starting relaxation, then you can still do this. Keep the ritual but factor in some alternatives like sparkling seltzer water or kombucha, which can look like rosé, in a wine glass. The visual perception of fancy glassware can make the difference, make it fun.