If drinking is interfering with your work, you're probably a heavy drinker. If work is interfering with your drinking, you're probably an alcoholic! Most people think that if a few drinks make them feel good then a lot of drinks will make them feel even better but instead it makes one feel worse. The dictionary clearly states that alcohol is a flammable substance. Now imagine what good you could possibly feel after consuming a high dose of alcohol.

Consumption of alcohol is usually accompanied with fried or non fried snacks which in turn kill the appetite for a proper meal .As you keep munching through the snacks and consuming alcohol, your calorie intake increases while at the same time dropping your nutrient intake drastically.

Alcohol further impairs the small intestine's ability to process nutrients and vitamins. Therefore, be mindful about what you eat especially while consuming alcohol.

Harmful Effects of Alcohol Consumption
·   Alcohol irritates the oesophagus, stomach and intestines each time you drink causing inflammation of the stomach lining and creating extra stomach acid.
·   Moderate alcohol consumption disrupts sleep architecture and it is also known to impair fine motor skills and slow reaction time.
·   Alcohol is a depressant, which slows down the central nervous system and can cause drowsiness along with inducing sleep.
·   Alcohol contains calories and can lead to obesity.
·   Your body develops a lowered resistance to infection as a result of continuous alcohol consumption.
·   High amounts of alcohol may cause breathing to stop and eventually death.
·   It decreases production of blood-clotting factors causing uncontrolled bleeding in some cases.
·   Liver accumulates fat which can cause liver failure (“alcoholic fatty liver”), coma and thus lead to death of an individual.
·   It increases one’s blood pressure causing a high risk of heart attack and stroke.

These are the most common and most known ill effects. However, there are many more harmful effects of alcohol consumption and these were only to name a few. The cause for alcohol consumption can be varied in fact moderate consumption may not be harmful. It really is the binge drinking behaviour or excessive indulgence that one needs to pay heed to. Both can cause irreparable damage to different body organs and system and it is necessary to watch out to prevent alcohol indulgence from turning into alcohol dependence.

One safe way to reduce dehydration from the body after alcohol consumption is to drink plenty of water before you sleep. Excessive fluid intake reduces the effects of dehydration caused by alcohol and can rapidly eliminate toxins from the body.

Try taking in vitamin C (citrus fruit juice or supplements) and Vitamin B-Complex, as these nutrients help clean up the blood in the body. Also having Bananas early morning will help you counter that “hangover” feeling. There are a lot of other things you can do to ensure you do not reach a drunken state. Like holding your drink for an hour, drinking only on weekends etc. However, the best alternative remains abstaining from drinking and following a healthy life style.

Here are a few simple things you could do to cut down your alcohol intake:
1. Get rid of all the extra stalked alcohol in the house.
2. Limit your drinking to social occasions.
3. Avoid carrying your credit card to a pub or a drinking place, that way you would not order that extra drink thinking you could pay for through your card.
4. Drink a non-alcoholic drink (preferably a citrus fruit juice) in between drinks, it will prevent you from getting dehydrated along with regaining control and slowing down on your alcohol intake.
5. Never drink on an empty stomach; else you could be left feeling nauseated.
6. Build a hobby or take up an activity (eg sports or exercise) and devote time to it.
7. Substitute time spent on drinking on other useful and fun activities.