What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health

In this episode, I discuss the physiological effects that drinking
alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of
consumption and over time. I also describe genetic differences that
predispose certain individuals to alcoholism, binge and
habit-drinking. I explain alcohol metabolism in simple terms and
how it effectively acts as a poison, leading to cellular stress and
damage. I then explain that it impacts neuronal function and
changes our thinking and behavior – hallmarks of inebriation. I
also discuss how alcohol consumption of different amounts impacts
inflammation, stress, neurodegeneration, and cancer risk and
negatively impacts the gut microbiome, brain thickness, hormone
balance, mood and feelings of motivation. Additionally, I discuss
the biology of hangovers and describe science-based strategies to
mitigate the severity of a hangover. Since alcohol is one of the
most widely consumed recreational substances, this episode ought to
be of relevance to everyone.  Indeed, even
low-to-moderate alcohol consumption negatively impacts the brain
and body in direct ways. The goal of this episode is to help people
make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption that are in
keeping with their mental and physical health goals.  Access
the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Use Ask
Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips,
and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1:
https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT:
https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up:
https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous:
https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Effects of
Alcohol Consumption 00:03:19 Low to Moderate Alcohol Consumption
& Neurodegeneration 00:06:14 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT 00:10:46
Historical Context & Uses of Alcohol 00:13:28 Alcohol
Metabolism, “Empty Calories” 00:18:23 Inebriation: Top-Down
Inhibition, Impulsivity & Memory Formation 00:24:23
Long-Lasting Effects & Impulsivity, Neuroplasticity &
Reversibility 00:27:55 Food & Alcohol Absorption 00:30:07
Alcohol & Serotonin, SSRIs & Depression, Risk for
Alcoholism, Blackouts 00:37:39 Predisposition for Alcoholism;
Chronic Consumption, Cortisol & Stress 00:43:29 Sponsor: AG1
00:46:07 Genetic Predisposition for Alcoholism, Consuming Alcohol
Too Young 00:52:27 Gut-Liver-Brain Axis: Alcohol, Gut Microbiome,
Inflammation & Leaky Gut 00:59:46 Tool: Improving/Replenishing
Gut Microbiome 01:02:44 Reducing Alcohol Consumption & Stress
01:04:25 Hangover: Alcohol & Sleep, Anxiety, Headache 01:12:11
Hangover Recovery, Adrenaline & Deliberate Cold Exposure
01:17:16 Hangover Recovery, Dehydration & Electrolytes 01:20:45
Types of Alcohol & Hangover Severity, Congeners 01:25:25
Alcohol Tolerance, Dopamine & Serotonin, Pleasure-Pain Balance
01:33:36 Are There Any Positive Effects of Alcohol?, Resveratrol
01:35:42 Alcohol & Brain Thickness 01:37:11 Alcohol &
Cancer Risk: DNA Methylation, Breast Cancer Risk 01:44:31
Mitigating Cancer Risk, Folate, B Vitamins 01:46:54 Alcohol &
Pregnancy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 01:50:58 Hormones: Testosterone
& Estrogen Balance 01:55:09 Negative Effects of Alcohol
Consumption 01:58:35 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify
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