Can’t Stop Overeating? THIS Could Be WHY
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 7, 2024
A clever patient recently asked me, “We use rubbing alcohol to kill germs and clean surfaces. So, does drinking alcohol hurt the good bacteria living in my intestines?”
It might seem like an odd question, at first.
However, it reveals a remarkable intuition about how drinking alcohol and disinfecting alcohol could impact microscopic lifeforms.
And as it turns out, he was onto something.
When you drink adult beverages like wine, beer, or liquor, roughly 20 percent of that alcohol swiftly enters your bloodstream.
But the remaining 80 percent takes a journey through your digestive tract. The alcohol creates an acidic and inflammatory environment along the way, which is NOT good for your overall health.
And the damage doesn’t end there.
Our gastrointestinal tracts are filled with trillions of bacteria that play crucial roles in digestion, immunity, and even mental health. This community of microorganisms is called our gut microbiome.
When you drink alcohol, some bacteria thrive in this new acidic habitat, while others struggle to survive.
As a result, just a few days of heavy drinking can substantially ALTER your microbial makeup, leading to far less diversity (fewer species of bacteria).
One study found that just one week of excessive alcohol use drastically cut the number of different species by up to 40 percent!
This is bad news because a diverse microbiome is a healthy microbiome. And this loss of diversity impairs its abilities and allows HARMFUL bacteria to dominate.
Certain species tend to benefit from the boozy landscape in your intestines. For example, Akkermansia muciniphila levels rapidly increase with alcohol intake.
This bacterium specializes in consuming the vital mucus that protects your GI lining. And an overgrowth allows greater access to the intestinal wall, which can lead to inflammation or leakage.
But it gets worse. Gut microbes can trigger overeating and influence food cravings. In fact, booze-loving Akkermansia can stimulate cravings for MORE alcohol, creating a vicious cycle.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that your microbiome is more resilient than it’s often given credit for… and balance CAN be restored.
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of prebiotic and probiotic foods can help repopulate your gut with friendly bacteria.
- Get plenty of prebiotic-rich fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Eat more probiotic-rich fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt, and kefir.
- Limit or avoid alcohol.
- Stay hydrated to facilitate healing.
- Take a daily prebiotic and probiotic supplement.
My clever patient’s hunch highlighted something that some of us NEVER learn. While an occasional drink may not cause lasting damage, excessive alcohol is UNHEALTHY… and it definitely disturbs your gut bug balance.
P.S. The BIG prune benefit you should know about (it’s NOT what you think).
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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