As a society, we love our booze. Whether it’s beers with the guys after work or cocktails on a night out, alcohol is a ubiquitous part of our social lives. However, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a host of problems, including liver damage, increased risk of cancer, and mental health issues.
Thankfully, recent research suggests that probiotics, the friendly bacteria that live in our gut, might be able to help with reducing overall alcohol consumption. Here’s what you need to know.
Firstly, it’s worth understanding why probiotics might be effective. When we drink alcohol, it damages the lining of our gut, disrupts the balance of our gut bacteria and creates inflammation. This disruption can cause a host of digestive issues, and can even lead to an increased desire to drink more alcohol.
But bacteria, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, found in probiotics can help to reduce the inflammation in the gut and restore the balance of healthy gut bacteria. This reduction in inflammation can alleviate digestive symptoms, and the balancing of healthy bacteria in our gut can lead to a reduction in the desire to drink alcohol.
One study conducted at the University of Sussex found that supplementing with probiotics for three weeks led to a significant reduction in alcohol consumption. The participants who took the probiotic supplement consumed fewer drinks per week, and when they did drink, they tended to drink less alcohol in each sitting.
The research also showed that probiotics helped to alleviate some of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, which can often lead to increased consumption due to the unpleasant feelings associated with quitting drinking.
So, should you rush out and buy a bottle of probiotics to help curb your drinking? Not necessarily. While the research is promising, it’s important to note that these findings are still preliminary, and more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of probiotics in reducing overall alcohol consumption.
That said, there’s plenty of evidence suggesting that supplementing with probiotics can have a positive impact on our digestive health, which can indirectly impact our overall wellbeing, including our relationship with alcohol. And, since probiotics are safe, widely available, and relatively inexpensive, it’s worth considering adding them to your diet or supplement regimen to enjoy their potential benefits.
while probiotics are not a magic cure for excessive alcohol consumption, the evidence suggests that they might help. By restoring balance to your gut and reducing inflammation, supplementing with probiotics might help you to cut down on your drinking, while also improving your overall health and wellbeing. So, cheers to that!I don’t want to forget to recommend that you read about HOW DO PROBIOTICS IMPACT ORAL HEALTH AFTER DRINKING? .
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