The dangers of alcohol abuse are often publicised and the recent debate, which says UK government guidelines on how much alcohol it is safe to drink are unrealistic, continues to keep drinking in the news. 
A study by the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies shows that the guidelines are largely ignored and should be changed to reflect modern drinking habits, the BBC reported.
More alarmingly, the study showed most people do not drink every day. Instead they drink heavily at the weekend – in order to get drunk.
The chief medical officers in both England and Scotland are looking at new guidelines to be published next year, and the researchers have been feeding their results to them.
But, separate from this study, statistics show that many as alcohol ‘numbs’ the need for food. In the United States, the National Eating Disorders Association carried out research which showed that nearly 50% of people with easting disorders abuse drugs and alcohol.
Another US-based website, Healthchecksystems, states that with moderate drinkers, alcohol does not suppress food intake and may actually increase appetite. But chronic alcohol consumption appears to have the opposite effect. Alcohol causes euphoria, which depresses appetite, so that heavy drinkers tend to eat poorly and become malnourished.
And the NHS in the UK says most people who have alcohol-related health problems – including diet – are not alcoholics. They are people who have regularly drunk more than the recommended levels for some years.
The UK website Netdoctor says too much alcohol is toxic to vitamins and minerals and at high levels acts as an anti-nutrient. Alcohol has a high calorific value, which is why it contributes to weight gain. It adds that alcohol also causes low blood sugar levels and dehydration, leading to an increase in appetite and the classic ‘binge eating’ that follows a bout of heavy drinking.
More than 9 million people in England drink more than the recommended daily limits, says the NHS. About 15,000 people in England die from alcohol-related causes each year. About 32% of these deaths are from liver disease, 21% from cancer and 17% from cardiovascular illnesses, such as heart disease and strokes.
One way to curb your drinking and to embark on a healthy beating regime is through hypnotherapy.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) has almost 2,000 highly qualified therapists across the country who can assist in these matters. They are trained in dealing with addictions and weight management.
The NCH says hypnotherapy works rapidly with bad habits and behaviours because it works directly with the subconscious, bypassing the critical mind and getting to the root of the issue so that changes can be made.
“The good news is that you are in control, you can change how you react to certain situations, and you can protect yourself in ways that are healthy and which allow you succeed and grow stronger in body and mind. You just need to know how to change it, and to believe you can,” says the NCH.
If you are worried about your drinking or diet, contact an NCH hypnotherapist near you by using the NCH directory. It will benefit you and lead to healthier – and longer life.