The Impact of COVID-19 on Alcohol Consumption

Siggi Clavien researched the impact of COVID on Alcohol Consumption.

Siggi Clavien, a detox expert and liver health enthusiast from the UK, researched the influence of COVID-19 on alcohol use.

Everyone experienced stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic one way or another. For many, unwinding with a glass of wine seems like a good idea to cope with the stress. However, for some, this increase in alcohol consumption is making the health crisis worse.

According to Dr. Mariann Piano, a substance abuse researcher, data indicates people are drinking more than usual.

Nielsen reports alcohol sales in stores increased by 54% in late March this year, compared to that time last year. And online sales were up nearly 500% in late April. According to a Morning Consult poll amongst 2,200 US adults conducted in early April, 16% of adults reported an increase of drinking duringThis included higher rates among younger adults, with one in four Millennials and almost one in five Gen Xers saying they increased their alcohol intake.

This increase is what prompted Siggi Clavien to spread the message of what overconsumption of alcohol does to your health and how to counter these effects.

How much alcohol is too much

How much alcohol is too much depends on a variety of factors, including your weight and gender, Siggi Clavien says. He explains that in general, “moderate” alcohol consumption tends to be two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.

On the far end of the spectrum, heavy drinking is generally measured as four drinks or more for women and five or more drinks for men in two hours.

Siggi Clavien explains Health Effects of Heavy Drinking.

Liver damage can lead to severe illnesses such as brain damage and even coma. It can also lead to indigestion problems and severe bleeding due to blood cloths.

Siggi Clavien said alcohol also could lead to damaging interactions with prescription drugs, poor sleep, and dehydration. Alcohol also affects brain functions such as memory, and rational thinking, he said.

Siggi Clavien continued, saying that alcohol-dependent people have damaged immune systems, reducing their body ability to fight off diseases like COVID-19.

People tend to turn to alcohol to try to relieve everyday stress, and the pandemic has pushed anxiety levels up for many people. People deal with all these uncertainties of whether they still have a job when kids go back to school, when they can see family again etc.

Anxiety isn’t the only thing causing the increase of drinking during the pandemic. Another trigger is loneliness and boredom, as a result of people working from home and self-isolating.

Siggi Clavien finds this cultural idea that alcohol is a good way to deal with problems disheartening. He is worried that for some people, drinking becomes the routine, go-to solution.”

How to reduce alcohol consumption

There are many alcohol-free ways for dealing with pandemic stress. Staying physically active, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy foods are three of the most important strategies.

Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing methods can help fight anxiety and keep your body active. Talking to friends by phone or video may reduce loneliness.

And especially when you are alone, it’s wise to do things that bring you joy or meaning. This could be walking outside, reading a good book or praying.

How to Counter Liver Damage

Siggi Clavien enjoys educating people on natural ways to improve health. He believes most people are not aware of the importance of the liver. The liver is an impressive and hard-working organ, performing more than 500 functions to maintain our health. The liver is as big as a football, making it the second-largest organ in our body after the skin. It processes nutrients from food, cleanses the blood, regulates the supply of body fuel, and balances our hormones and cholesterol. It also manages our sugar in our bloodstream, making the liver of importance for our energy level.

To improve liver health, the best thing to do is to reduce alcohol consumption. But besides this, there are many ways to naturally detox your liver through certain foods.