(upbeat music) - Hello, health enthusiasts, and welcome to RevUp Health, your go-to podcast for all things wellness. I'm Dr. Mark Heckler. - And I'm Tandy Heckler. Together, we're here to fuel your health journey with the best of functional medicine and holistic well-being. - Each episode will dive deep into topics that matter to your health, bringing you the latest insights, research, and inspiring stories. - So whether you're on a quest for vibrant health or just looking for daily health tips, we've got you covered. - So let's embark on this journey together and transform the way you live. - Hello, today on the podcast, we are gonna talk about the fact that it is July, and some people are participating in July, July. So no alcohol for the month of July. - Correct, so basically our podcast today is just more of a kind of our opinions about alcohol and, you know, okay, do we need it? What does it do to us? You know, those types of ideas and, you know, what we do and what we don't do, what we know we should do. But yeah, we still do it. We still make alcohol. So I think we need to bring these topics up and let everybody start to think about their own activities, their own habits and their own diet. - Yeah, it is one of those things where you know, you know what you should do and then you know what you do and kind of weighing those things out. And I think a big thing to consider here is being intentional and intentionality around your health because, you know, some people say everything in moderation, but I didn't hear a conversation with Dr. Casey Means recently and she was like, you know, I'm gonna call bullshit on that, basically. She said, there are some things that are not good in moderation, ultra processed foods, probably alcohol, some other things, you know, sugar, not good in moderation event. - It wasn't, it wasn't she to the fact that someone asked her a question about what's her, the fate, it prays she doesn't, the most hates and it was-- - The worst advice ever given is everything in moderation. She said, the worst advice. I mean, after she said it and I explained it, I'm like, oh, she's got a good point there. - Yeah, you know, moderation. I mean, there is no level of alcohol that is good for your body and there's no way that you can convince me, otherwise, but there's also, it's certainly something that people say, well, I have a glass of wine occasionally or I have a cocktail or a beer. I mean, there's a lot of things that are really not good about alcohol and when you look at, and I hate to talk about to the beer record around here, but drinking beer is probably the one or the worst thing you could possibly do for your body in so many of her wigs. I think it's almost better to eat a loaf of bread than it is to drink beer, so. But her nice big chocolate cake, which sounds good, but-- - In moderation. - In moderation. (laughs) - But I really think, I mean, one of our favorite cocktails, then an orilish bourbon crush, which not only has the alcohol and bourbon, but is also fruit juice, simple syrup, I mean, it's the worst. - It's like sugar, and it's all-- - So not only is it something that-- - But the ice is so amazing. - Follow 'em up, I always-- - Oh, good, yeah, who doesn't like side guys, 'cause that's kind of what this restaurant uses, is this ice, like, niggas, so it makes it so much better. I think if you just put it in a glass and break it out, I don't think what I can near as good as it is. (laughs) - I'm not a person. - Something, me. - I'm gonna go just that. (laughs) - So anyway, in honor of dry July, we are gonna really start thinking about this and being a little bit more intentional about when we partake. So one of the things that we know, not even really of all the, I guess, illnesses that alcohol can cause, it also affects your sleep. So when you're drinking alcohol before bed, or, you know, close to bedtime, your sleep is going to suffer, and we know that sleep is so important. So this is where that intentionality comes in. If you're gonna decide to make the decision to do it, you know, make sure that it isn't at a time that it's gonna impact your sleep. - Right, now, does that mean that it's okay to drink beer for breakfast, or to take, you know, bourbon shots in the morning before lunch? - Yeah. - But certainly, obviously, the majority of the time that adults typically will drink alcohol is needing for dinner. And well, what does that do? That affects everything. It affects all kinds of things, so, I mean-- - Sweet acid reflux, you know, it can just-- - Yeah, neurologically, it can affect that. I mean, it's, obviously, there's a lot of other things that affects too, but it's certainly something that in the evening, it is kind of the worst thing. Certainly, and, you know, reflux is all the signs that people don't think about, too, 'cause that's gonna affect your sleep, too, even if you didn't-- - Right. Very true. - But, you know, some of the statistics, I mean, I'd like to let people know some of the statistics, I had kind of running down a lot of things, but, you know, the global burden of alcohol contributes to three million deaths annually worldwide, counting for a little over 5% of all deaths. Now, that is crazy to think that. Liver disease, you know, the effects of alcohol liver disease. You know, alcohol liver disease, cancer approximately 40 to 50% of liver cirrhosis deaths, which is quite interesting, too, so cancers. It's responsible for about 4% of all the cancer deaths just in the United States alone. - And I think it's something like seven different. I heard Dr. Allen talking about something the other day and he was talking about how it's late to seven different types of cancer. So, you're not even just focused on liver cancer. It's, you know, lots of different types of community. - Yeah, that's probably, these are probably not an observation lens. These are probably caused by, actually, so, you know, diabetes, that's a big one, you know, heavy alcohol consumption contributes to, I mean, increases the risk of type two diabetes by 43%. Heart of vascular disease affects that, too. Well, that heavy drinking is gonna increase your risk for cardiovascular diseases by up to 40% also. So, it's not just something that affects your sleep or your reflux and affects neurologically. It affects your heart, affects, you know, internal organs that may affect your health. - Absolutely, you know, it's certainly something that really gives a lot of dysbiosis to it. So, you know, obviously, some people may know that firsthand. So, or you're not even talking about the people that may have reactions or liver reactions to it. - Yes, which is-- - It's just sensitivities to it. - Rich, that is definitely something that happens as well. People have sensitivities. I mean, I've heard people say, oh, I can't bring this type of line because I have a reaction, but I can drink white wine. And, you know, if you're reacting, you're probably reacting regardless. - Yeah, and it's gonna affect, you know, depression anxiety. It's gonna aggravate that, worse than that, not make it more prevalent. It is truly something that it can become addicting. It's like sugar, sugar is addicting. So, it's gonna alcohol. It's a flavor thing that people like and it's hard to move into the mottile arena. Right, you know, because you compare, when you start drinking mottiles, you're always trying to compare it to, well, let's say it's just a light burn, kind of, or it just stays just like wine, kind of. But, you know, it is not the same thing. I mean, that's, some people just enjoy that flavor. And I have also enjoyed the flavor. So, it's something you just, you decide whether, okay, is it better for me to forego that, to save my mitochondria and keep top, keep from totsifying my mitochondria or, you know, or you're making your liver work extra hard. You know, your liver's always there. It's on your side. It's trying to detoxify you all the time. But it's, when we continue to throw this alcohol into it, it's runt, does it's whole? - So, I guess that is, I'll ask you the question. I don't know that I can answer it so don't ask it back. But why, what is it about an orange bourbon crush that you like so much? - It is purely flavor. So, not at all about how it makes you feel. - No, no, no, not at all. 'Cause when I first, when I first started drinking that, this was any thing, you know, a nice wine too. I mean, it's the flavor of smooth. It's almost like a palatable texture that it gives you. And I think, obviously, I think that's more of a simple, nervous system dependency addiction feeling. But it also made it, there was more of a release and a very different hormones or endorphins that makes you feel good when you do it. So, that's a great question. - Yeah, and I am okay. - It was a dopamine addiction. - I don't know. - Yeah, it is very interesting to know the choices that you should make and rationalize why you don't. - Right, right. - And I think it's important for people to know that you're not alone and that, that reasoning and that kind of struggle. I think just like it is with alcohol, that it can go to any of the other things that we, that we do, the food that we eat that we know we shouldn't. So, it is a, it is a real thing. And I think sometimes it is just habits and routines. And, you know, this is the one thing we do when we go out and he's out. - It's like it's a reward. You know, you think of it as such that it's a reward. It's like, oh, all about a rough week out. I had it work or a rough day, you know, work or a long day working over the weekend, a rough, long weekend. And I just need to relax. Go as a one-hundred. And I have been there multiple times in that situation. And it's almost as if it's saying that man, I've had a tough week and this is what I'm gonna do to reward myself instead of, okay, I'm gonna go have a big slice of watermelon or I'm gonna have a big bowl of carrots and celery. Yeah, wow, I can't wait to do that. It's been a rough week. You know, what do you do? - That's true. And I think you do have to rewire your reward system. - Right. And maybe find things that do taste similar that are not the same as those things that aren't as good for you. - Right, right. - And this obviously, you know, everyone is probably heard of or you couldn't potentially hear up my 20-year-old, but this alcohol would be certainly in the 20% world where it is something that you don't wanna do wear an outfit. So that's one of the few things that I can do. But it's still, it's really early difficult. - Yeah. And I think there are ways that you can, I mean, some people call this biohacking a little bit, but there are ways that you can do things differently. So maybe it isn't as impactful, negatively impacting. Not to say, I do say alcohol is gonna negatively impact you regardless. However, you probably could drink it in a way that it will affect your sleep like it would normally. And so it is an interesting thought. - Yeah. But yeah, the impact on our health is quite significant. And, you know, like we said, in moderation, what does that mean? You know, is that one glass a week or one or two glasses a wine a week? You know, what does it mean? I don't know what it means to you. You know, it's something you'll have to have to think about in your own life. I mean, how many times do you want to sit down and have a beer with a pizza or a beer with a bird or something like that? It's that's a pretty common thing. But, you know, yeah, in my other days, I would have a beer occasionally. I don't have beer anymore. And so, and just kind of the conclusion that I'm not going to subject myself into that type of exposure, but also, you know, I would rather get my carbs another way. I don't want to really drink my carbs. - Which is the same with your orange verbiage. - Yeah, but, that's, I tried to, I tried to do some new, so to look at it, maybe they could put a different, something different in that at ice. - Yeah. - Something maybe at fruit juice. - No, I don't care about that. I do the area. - I need to go to Sora to get fruits near these or vegetables. - So, another thing that I was just kind of thinking about as we're talking is that oftentimes, you know, you go to events and alcohol is related to the events that you go to, so. - Yeah, there's got to be some statistics to talk about how much beer is drank up from the whole game. - Oh, yeah. - It's just incredible. So, obviously, you know, half time is spent in the bathroom line with everybody to go in because they drank beer the first half or before till the game before the game, and so. - Yeah, so I think those types of things, that's another reason that it can be hard to give up these things that you know you shouldn't do, but you get in these situations and these events that you're used to going to, that you enjoy doing, and it's there, and it's part of the experience. So, it's a matter of kind of changing what that looks like. We have been going to the Kansas City current games, which are so much fun, and we love it because they actually sell sparkling water in the thing cans, which there isn't another sporting event that I have been to that had sparkling water as an option. - Right, yeah. So, we do drink a lot of that, and that's certainly something that, yes, there's that, that it's not just water, it's, you know, it's got that enhanced flavor, and I think that's something that rewards the brain to be dead, I think, actually so. - Yeah, so it is interesting how these types of things come up, and you just kind of have to navigate, and, you know, I think cutting back certainly, there's definitely things, cutting back is gonna help, you know, so making that the first step is, you know, cutting back on sugar or alcohol or ultra processed foods, I mean, obviously, there are things that we absolutely want out of our diet and our body, but just making the first step and deciding, okay, I'm gonna cut back in this way, so. - Right, but you all said to think about, okay, what's the effect of this? What's this gonna do? If I do drink some spice, this cookie, right? If I drink this beer, if I drink this, shot a bourbon or whatever, I mean, what's that gonna do to the quality and the towel is on the health of the mitochondria in my cells, whether it be in your brain or throughout your body, so it's almost something that I guess you need to think about, it's okay, the longer I keep drinking this, or the longer I keep eating this, maybe the younger I, or the earlier I'm going to die, maybe even think of that way, or maybe the earlier I'm going to have an onset of dementia, which is certainly something of a consideration, but, you know, I hate to spend your whole life being worried about disease. - And I don't think that. - But it's certainly something that out there. - Yes, so Dr. Casey means talks about, every time she goes to eat something, she asks, what kind of energy is it gonna make? Like, is this gonna fuel my body in a good way, or is this gonna be bad for my body? And I think that that is something that you can kind of think about. Like, how is this chocolate cake, or this orange ribbon crush going to build new cells? 'Cause that's what we're doing. Like, everything that we're taking into our body is the building of the next iteration of ourselves. - Right, yeah, 'cause our cells constantly turn over, so you're creating cells, and getting rid of cells, and iterating the damaged cells, so it's a process, if you will. But certainly, yeah, that's certainly something to consider. - So, in honor of dry July, or dry January, so we're up so far, whatever month, what lady coming up, we're gonna do a virtual mop-tail happy hour on Thursdays. Right now, we're staying for the month of July, and maybe it will go over well, and it will do it longer. - Maybe so. (laughing) - Maybe it's to make it part of your regular routine? - Yeah. - Every month. - So, we hope that this really did a couple of things. Helped everyone know that you're not alone in your struggle to change from, you know, your standard habits, and the things that you've been doing, and kind of getting at those treats, and those things that you really love. Like, you're not alone, people who, I mean, everyone, drive us with these types of things. - Right. - And I also noticed that, too, one thing that I think I wanted to mention is, once, you know, for me, with marathon running, is that I know that alcohol is gonna disrupt that. I know that I'm not going to come to the start line, and I'm not gonna get to the finish line, and as optically as I should have, or would have, if I had, you know, an orange bourbon crush, or a glass of wine, you know. When do you decide not to, going up to these types of physical events? That's a good question. You know, that might be something where we can research that and come back at a, maybe there's studies that have been done that showed it's certainly something that I haven't seen. I just know that it does affect, like, my quality of metabolic health, and obviously, my moderate kind of rear runner on all cylinders, I'm gonna be running very well, too. So let's make something in the situation. I have it. So the other thing is just to invite you guys to be mindful and intentional about the decisions you make, and I hope that you'll join us on Thursdays for virtual happy hour. - Making a thing. - So, all right. Well, reach out to us if you have questions. You want us to have a special podcast about something? Shoot us a DM. Follow us @RevelationHealthMomy. Have a healthy day. (upbeat music) - Thank you for tuning in to another episode of RevUp Health. We hope you're leaving with some valuable insights to supercharge your health journey. - Don't forget to follow or subscribe to RevUp Health wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us rating and review. - Have a topic you want us to explore? Reach out to us on social media channels. We love hearing from our wellness community. Until next time, keep thriving, and remember, your journey to health is a journey to a better you. - Stay well, and we'll connect with you again soon. This is Tandy. - And this is Dr. Mark signing off from RevUp Health. Take care. (upbeat music) - The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. The content is designed to support, not replace the relationship that exists between a patient and their healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your healthcare regimen, including diet, exercise, or treatment plans. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of revelation, health, and wellbeing.
Join Dr. Mark and Tandi Hechler, the functional medicine duo behind Revelation Health & Well-Being, as they dive into the pros and cons of ditching alcohol for a month. In this candid and thought-provoking episode, you'll learn: The Truth About "Everything in Moderation": Dr. Mark and Tandi challenge conventional wisdom and discuss why some things, like alcohol, might not be good for you in any amount.The Hidden Costs of Alcohol: Discover the surprising ways alcohol can impact your sleep,...
