Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Alcohol is a depressant. Just think about that. It’s Mental Health Week, we’re talking diet strategies to improve your mental health, and one of the most common drinks we consume is a depressant.

While a glass of wine at the end of the day can be relaxing and you may use a couple of drinks to rev up for a party, alcohol is not a stimulant. Small amounts calm and reduce inhibitions, because it’s a central nervous system depressant.

• Drinking less grog, will give you better mental health.
• If you suffer from depression, or are prone to low moods, abstaining from alcohol will help.
• For everyone else, reducing your alcohol intake is still an important health goal.

Detoxifying alcohol takes valuable nutrients

As well as being a depressant, alcohol uses up vitamins and minerals. As it’s processed by your liver, B vitamins, zinc and other nutrients are used to detoxify alcohol.

These wasted nutrients could be put to much better use by your body. If your diet is poor, you run the risk of nutrient deficiencies. B vitamin deficiencies in particular are common in heavy drinkers. This can cause low moods, irritability and aggressive behaviour, as well as more serious and long-term mental health problems.

How much is too much?

• Women: no more than 2 standard drinks a day, with at least 2 alcohol-free days per week.
• Men: no more than 4 standard drinks a day, with at least 2 alcohol-free days per week.
• Binge-drinking – women: consuming more than 4 standard drinks during a day.
• Binge-drinking – men: consuming more than 6 standard drinks during a day.

What’s a standard drink?

• one 425ml glass (a schooner) of light beer
• one 285ml glass (a middy) of regular beer
• one 100ml glass of wine – a usual pub measure of wine is at least 150ml
• one 30ml nip of spirits
• one 60ml glass of port or sherry

Make a commitment to reduce your alcohol intake, for the sake of both your physical and mental health.

Mental Health Week

It’s Mental Health Week here at Limes & Lycopene and this post is part of a series: five food and diet strategies you can use to improve your mental health. For more information on the safe use of alcohol, see the National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre’s website.

Technorati tags: “mental health week” and mental health week

12 October, 2007