Drinking small amounts of alcohol can sometimes bring on positive health effects. In fact, many of the oldest people across the globe sip on red wine on a regular basis! But while smaller or moderate amounts of alcohol may be harmless to most, there are still side effects of drinking as you age to look out for.
To learn more about this, we talked with a few expert dietitians to get their take on the potential negative side effects of drinking alcohol after the age of 50. After, for more healthy drinking tips, check out The 25 Worst Beers in the World.
It may cause weight gain.
A common side effect of drinking too much alcohol after 50 is possible weight gain.
“As we age our metabolism, unfortunately, slows down. That means we do not need as many calories to maintain our weight. Because alcohol contains calories, continuing to drink the amount you once did when you were younger might actually cause weight gain due to extra calories. If you like a glass of wine or drink at dinner, make sure you are calculating those calories into your eating plan,” says Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook and member of our expert medical board.
It might raise triglycerides.
Drinking heavier amounts of alcohol can not only increase your chances of gaining weight, but it may impact your heart health, too.
“While moderate drinking (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) might actually have a heart health benefit by increasing your HDL, or good cholesterol, drinking more heavily can actually have the opposite effect and cause an increase in triglycerides,” says Goodson.
It might reduce muscle recovery after exercise.
One side effect of drinking that many people may not realize is that it can hinder your exercise goals and recovery process.
