How Does Alcohol Affect Hormones?

• Regulates blood sugar
• Manages inflammation
• Affects metabolism

• Drives motivation
• Creates feelings of pleasure or reward
• Regulates mood and memory
• Controls motor functions

• Drives feelings of well-being
• Required for memory and learning

• Regulates the menstrual cycle
• Supports reproductive health
• Maintains bone density
• Affects mood and brain function

• Drives sexual development
• Maintains muscle mass
• Supports bone density
• Regulates libido
• Crucial for sperm production
• Affects mood and energy
• (Also present in women)

• Lowers blood sugar
• Converts glucose to glycogen
• Tells the body to use sugar instead of burning fat
• Responds to rising blood sugar from eating

• Raises blood sugar
• Maintains blood sugar stability during eating and sleeping
• Released during fasting

Alcohol and the Endocrine System

The endocrine system works alongside the nervous system to control the flow of information between different organs and cells. Together, they regulate metabolism, energy levels, reproduction, stress management, electrolyte balance, and growth and development. Consuming too much alcohol disrupts this intricate system, leading to a hormonal imbalance that can significantly impact your overall health and well-being over time.

Cortisol and Alcohol

According to research, chronic drinking increases cortisol levels.

This can lead to a range of short and long-term health concerns, including:

Alcohol and Dopamine

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that can change the way we feel, affecting our moods and behaviours. Dopamine (one of the happy hormones) levels increase with drinking alcohol, resulting in heightened pleasure and the likelihood of wanting to drink more. However, after a certain point, the ‘dopamine high’ is often replaced with the ‘low’, such as a hangover.

Alcohol and Serotonin

Serotonin, a chemical in the body responsible for learning, memory and feelings of joy and wellbeing, plays an important role in regulating your mood. It also helps keep your sleep cycle and other processes in the body functioning well. While consuming alcohol can temporarily boost serotonin levels (making you feel happier), in the long term, excess drinking can lower serotonin levels, which may exacerbate feelings of depression.

Alcohol and Oxytocin

Along with serotonin and dopamine, the hormone oxytocin completes the trio of feel-good chemicals. Research has shown that alcohol can affect centres of oxytocin production in males and females.

Alcohol and Testosterone and Estrogen

Alcohol has an impact on both male and female sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) and can affect reproductive function and health. In particular, acute alcohol consumption depletes testosterone levels, increases oxidative stress and decreases semen parameters. Alcohol disrupts estrogen hormone levels in women and can increase:

• The risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer by 35%
• The risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer by 28%

Alcohol and blood sugar levels

Alcohol can alter blood sugar levels, therefore increasing the risk of developing alcohol-related diabetes, and making it very dangerous for people who already have the condition.

Another common and well-known side effect of excess drinking is fatigue. With alcohol acting as a disruptor to the endocrine system, the body’s ability to produce, utilise and store energy decreases. As the body struggles to release the right levels of hormones, you may experience tiredness and a general lack of energy.

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FAQs about Alcohol and Hormones

Does Alcohol Affect Your Hormones?

In a word, yes, there is a relationship between alcohol and hormonal imbalance. Hormones play a critical role in keeping our mind and body functioning optimally, serving as the body's chemical messengers. When we drink, alcohol interferes with the endocrine system, the network of glands responsible for producing and releasing hormones throughout the body.

Is Alcohol a Hormone Disruptor?

Yes, alcohol can interfere with several hormonal systems in the human body, including (but not limited to) male and female sex hormones, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, cortisol and glycogen. Such disruptions can contribute to numerous illnesses and health challenges, including cancer, diabetes, heart problems, libido drive, and more.

Will Quitting Alcohol Balance Hormones?

Yes, removing or reducing alcohol should result in a better hormonal balance over time, giving the body a chance to restore its normal hormonal functions.