What you should know about alcohol bloating and weight gain

You drink a few glasses of wine and there it is- your stomach or abdomen expands to a point where it’s uncomfortable, noticeable and embarrassing. Why does this happen? It turns out that drinking alcohol may lead to irritation and inflammation in the stomach (i.e. gastritis) which leads to bloating. Alcohol can also cause weight gain, which gives the appearance of bloating. Bloating and weight gain, two different effects of drinking alcohol, are discussed below. 

Gastritis is erosive, allowing stomach acid to damage the stomach lining. If left untreated, this can lead to the development of stomach ulcers (i.e. peptic ulcers) which can become severe without the appropriate treatment. If you suspect that you may have gastritis, go to your medical or naturopathic doctor to get checked. In cases of (alcohol-induced) gastritis caused by a H. pylori infection, Dr. Ardyce Yik ND treats the gastritis by targeting the infection and prescribing other natural medicines to to heal the stomach lining.

IS IT WEIGHT GAIN?

Alcoholic drinks are typically high in calories. For example, one beer weighing 12 oz contains 150 calories. A glass of red wine (5 oz) contains 120 calories. As you can imagine, consuming several alcoholic drinks over the course of an evening can quickly lead to an excessive calorie intake, which in turn results in weight gain and accumulation of body fat.

Alcoholic intoxication may increase the likelihood of overeating. Besides lowered inhibitions and impaired judgment causing one to overeat, research indicates that alcohol consumption leads to hyperactivity of certain neurons in the brain that evoke intense hunger. Usually, these neurons are activated by starvation, but it turns out that consuming alcohol activates them as well.

If you are struggling with alcoholism, bloating or weight gain, find an experienced practitioner who can help you tackle the root problems of your health issues.

SOURCE: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325778.php; https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14014