Читать книгу Low-Carb Diet For Dummies - Katherine B. Chauncey - Страница 105

Many people drink alcohol at some point in their lives. Some only drink during social occasions and others may have an evening glass of wine. Moderate alcohol consumption of no more than one drink per day can offer some heart benefits. The following figure shows what qualifies as a drink. However, the benefit is not so great that a nondrinker should consider drinking alcohol. About one-third of individuals who drink alcohol will develop problems with alcohol. Drinking problems can increase your risk of serious health problems (both physical and behavioral) and accidents or injuries.

Illustration by Liz Kurtzman

If you want to drink alcohol, moderate consumption is considered safe. Moderate drinking is considered two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women or lighter-weight men. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of hard liquor. Be sure to count these beverages in your daily five carbohydrate choices. Each one counts as one carbohydrate choice.

How you deal with the stress is what’s important. Some people respond to stress by eating poorly, being physically inactive, smoking, or drinking alcohol. Others criticize their spouses, yell at their kids, and kick their dogs. And some employ the silent treatment — keeping everything bottled up inside when they’re about to explode. All these reactions take their toll on your body.

Short-term responses to stress can be a headache, stomachache, diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting. Longer-term responses affect blood pressure and sleeping and increase your risk for depression, heart disease, and susceptibility to colds and infections.

Eating and bingeing just compound the stress. The temporary comfort provided by the food is followed by guilt for overeating. Stress is pent-up energy that needs to be released. When stress comes, step back, take a deep breath, and go for a walk. Buy yourself some time to relax and decompress.

If your problems with stress are far more serious, talk to a trusted friend, your religious leader, your healthcare provider, or a professional therapist.