Thebody’s hormoneswork together in a finely coordinated and complex system to keep us healthy and functioning.
Alcohol can interfere with the operation of the hormone system and cause serious medical consequences.
Blood Sugar Levels
The main energy source for all body tissues is sugar glucose.
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The body’sblood sugar levelsare controlled by insulin and glucagon, hormones secreted by the pancreas.
They work together to maintain a constant concentration of glucose in the blood.
Insulin lowers glucose levels, while glucagon raises it.
Alcohol interferes with all three glucose sources and the hormones that regulate glucose levels.
There are many ways alcohol consumption affects the body’s glucose levels.
Alcohol is known to:
Chronic heavy drinking can increase the body’s glucose levels.
A review published in 2015 reported that chronic heavy drinking can cause glucose intolerance in healthy people.
It can also:
Reproductive Functions
Many hormones in the body regulate the reproductive system.
The two main hormonesandrogens (testosterone) and estrogens (estradiol)are synthesized in the testes and ovaries.
These hormones affect various reproductive functions.
Rachdaoui N, Sarkar DK.Effects of alcohol on the endocrine system.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am.
2016;40(4):657671. doi:10.1111/acer.13000
