Sugar/Alcohol
SUGAR & LIQUID SUGAR (alcohol) – OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ANTI NUTRIENTS
Sugar makes your immune system less efficient in fighting off infections. Any form of sugar will suppress the white blood cells activity.
Sugars will also contribute to increased fat storage and inflammation. This is why I exclude even dried fruits and fruits high in the fruit sugar called fructose (such as pineapple, mango etc).
Alcohol is a TOXIN to the body!
To detoxify alcohol the liver uses up the essential master antioxidant called GLUTATHIONE – the key nutrient required to help break down most chemical toxins through the liver.
Females are less able to tolerate alcohol than men due to our natural levels of fat. Once we move into perimenopause (usually from aged 40) we have a reduction in the enzyme required to break down alcohol (alcohol dehydrogenase) – This means our tolerance to alcohol decreases quite substantially on top of the thinner “Blood Brain Barrier” (protection to the brain), and we have worse effects after drinking than we may have experienced in the past.
When we drink alcohol it affects the permeability of the gut – making it leaky, enabling anything to pass through the protective layers of the intestines into the bloodstream.
When alcohol meets your gut cells it activates an enzyme called CYP2E1 which detoxifies the alcohol. During this process damaging free radicals are released which can be neutralised by glutathione. BUT only if there is ENOUGH GLUTATHIONE. Once glutathione gets depleted (genetic reasons, age, diet etc) the free radicals multiply and alcohol leaks into the body. When intestinal cells are damaged by alcohol they enable the increased entry of ENDOTOXINS.
So for 12 or more days eliminate alcohol. This will enable your body to become stronger – improving immune resilience and reducing the burden on your liver.
What could you enjoy instead?
A herbal tea cooled down (such as lemon and ginger or mint) with plenty of ice and extra mint leaves or lime added (possibly carbonated water)? Please share your alcohol free “go to”.
Those following the shorter programme may have a glass on the Friday/Saturday if you really need to. Those on the longer programme may have 1 glass on Friday and Saturday of their second weekend.
Keep it real and make the programme work for you:
If you do have something special happening try to stick to the one glass or make a “piscine” with half champagne and half carbonated water.
For more information listen to my Instagram Live recording on my account (@christinekjeldbjerg) with Lindsey Beveridge on the 19th September 2022, you may actually decide that alcohol isn´t for you after all.
