A beer or a glass of wine is often taken for granted at social occasions, but alcohol consumption has quite a few negative sides. If you want to feel as fit, energetic, and healthy as possible, it is worth taking a closer look at your alcohol consumption.
Physical health
You often hear the argument that red wine is good for you. This stems primarily from the idea that the antioxidants present in wine have positive effects on your health. However, recent extensive research contradicts this health effect. It is best to drink little to none (1 to 2 glasses per week) (maximum 100 grams of alcohol per week). This gives you the lowest risk of disease and keeps you healthy the longest.
You have more energy
After drinks or a night out, that familiar morning always arrives: you are unproductive and have little energy. Is this the case for you too? Does your week actually only have six days? By quitting drinking, all days of the week suddenly count again: getting up on time, full of energy, and ready to be active. As a result, you can also train more often and more effectively.
Do you enjoy having a little more to drink now and then, but want to limit the negative effects on your workouts or productivity? One option is to 'plan' your hangover, ensuring you don't have to train or work the next day. That way, your workouts or work won't suffer as much!
You sleep better
It might seem like you sleep better after a drink, but the quality of your sleep is actually lower. Although science hasn't yet unraveled everything about sleep, research seems to indicate that you wake up feeling less rested. You might recognize this feeling: after a night of heavy drinking, you fall asleep like a log, but you sleep restlessly or wake up much too early, when you would have preferred to sleep in to ease the hangover. That's a shame, because a good night's rest is important for your recovery.
You save money
Are you saving for a new pair of shoes or would you like a midweek trip to Spain? A lot of money can fly away unnoticed during a night out. A glass of wine easily costs €4.00 to €6.00, meaning you quickly spend at least €100 on alcohol per month. You will likely save a considerable amount if you cut out alcohol. You can spend this on other fun things, or and Personal Trainer 😉
It is just as fun without alcohol.
The biggest obstacle for many is the fear that an evening with friends will no longer be fun. During the day and at work, people can have a great time together without a glass of wine, so why shouldn't that be possible in the evening? A little confidence in your own ability to be sociable works wonders.
One tip is not to constantly talk about your new challenge. It helps if you focus your attention on other things. Perhaps an alcohol-free beer will help you forget about your experiment for a moment as well. Nowadays, alcohol-free beers are very flavorful.
Assignment:
Keep a record of your alcohol consumption for the next two weeks, and then halve this amount for the following four weeks. Before you know it, you will already be partially accustomed to a new habit! Good luck.
P.S. For some extra motivation, you can already start thinking about what you're going to do with the money you saved!
Do you find it difficult to drink less alcohol? On this website you will find more info and tips; https://minderdrinken.nl/
English 
Dutch