Modern research about the effects that alcohol has on the body and brain by Dr. Andrew Huberman of Stanford, a noted neurobiologist, psychiatrist, and other MD degrees:
2 drinks on a Friday night every week is enough to change the healthy functioning of the gut, the gut-to-brain biome, and structural changes to gray matter (frontal cortex for reasoning), esssential structures of the brain like the amygdyla and hypothalamus, and alter the balance of major mood-affecting neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and others. 2 drinks a week… and the AMA says 7-14/week is ok… Sobering…
Consider this a potential addendum to The Doctor’s Opinion – Dr Huberman’s conclusion: Alcohol in any amount, no matter how seemingly benign, is pure poison to the mind and body.
It is not a treatise on alcoholism, but he does mention that people seem to fall into one of 2 categories – “The Normies” where anything more than 2 drinks has no benefit – and then there’s us, the exact opposite. It is mind blowing, and well worth 2 hours of your time.
The good news – all this damage IS reversible – up to a certain point.