What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health

In this episode, I discuss the physiological effects that drinking alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of consumption and over time. I also describe genetic differences that predispose certain individuals to alcoholism, binge and habit-drinking. I explain alcohol metabolism in simple terms and how it effectively acts as a poison, leading to cellular stress and damage. I then explain that it impacts neuronal function and changes our thinking and behavior – hallmarks of inebriation. I also discuss how alcohol consumption of different amounts impacts inflammation, stress, neurodegeneration, and cancer risk and negatively impacts the gut microbiome, brain thickness, hormone balance, mood and feelings of motivation. Additionally, I discuss the biology of hangovers and describe science-based strategies to mitigate the severity of a hangover. Since alcohol is one of the most widely consumed recreational substances, this episode ought to be of relevance to everyone.  Indeed, even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption negatively impacts the brain and body in direct ways. The goal of this episode is to help people make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption that are in keeping with their mental and physical health goals.  Access the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Effects of Alcohol Consumption 00:03:19 Low to Moderate Alcohol Consumption & Neurodegeneration 00:06:14 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT 00:10:46 Historical Context & Uses of Alcohol 00:13:28 Alcohol Metabolism, “Empty Calories” 00:18:23 Inebriation: Top-Down Inhibition, Impulsivity & Memory Formation 00:24:23 Long-Lasting Effects & Impulsivity, Neuroplasticity & Reversibility 00:27:55 Food & Alcohol Absorption 00:30:07 Alcohol & Serotonin, SSRIs & Depression, Risk for Alcoholism, Blackouts 00:37:39 Predisposition for Alcoholism; Chronic Consumption, Cortisol & Stress 00:43:29 Sponsor: AG1 00:46:07 Genetic Predisposition for Alcoholism, Consuming Alcohol Too Young 00:52:27 Gut-Liver-Brain Axis: Alcohol, Gut Microbiome, Inflammation & Leaky Gut 00:59:46 Tool: Improving/Replenishing Gut Microbiome 01:02:44 Reducing Alcohol Consumption & Stress 01:04:25 Hangover: Alcohol & Sleep, Anxiety, Headache 01:12:11 Hangover Recovery, Adrenaline & Deliberate Cold Exposure 01:17:16 Hangover Recovery, Dehydration & Electrolytes 01:20:45 Types of Alcohol & Hangover Severity, Congeners 01:25:25 Alcohol Tolerance, Dopamine & Serotonin, Pleasure-Pain Balance 01:33:36 Are There Any Positive Effects of Alcohol?, Resveratrol 01:35:42 Alcohol & Brain Thickness 01:37:11 Alcohol & Cancer Risk: DNA Methylation, Breast Cancer Risk 01:44:31 Mitigating Cancer Risk, Folate, B Vitamins 01:46:54 Alcohol & Pregnancy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 01:50:58 Hormones: Testosterone & Estrogen Balance 01:55:09 Negative Effects of Alcohol Consumption 01:58:35 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter, Huberman Lab Clips Disclaimer