Have you noticed after a few glasses of wine you’re ready to hit the hay? It never dawned on me that there might be a scientific explanation as to why we feel sleepy after a glass of wine.
Alcohol can make people of any age sleepy, because it’s a muscle relaxant and a sedative. Italian researchers believe they know why. It isn’t just the alcohol that’s inducing sleep. Grapes used to make many of the most popular red wines also contain melatonin, a hormone stored by the human brain to tell the body when it’s time to hit the sack.
I would have to disagree since I am more of a white wine drinker and rarely drink red but still feel drowsy. After about 3 full glasses of wine I am ready for a nap but it all depends on what kind of alcohol and how much I drink.
Depending on the kind of alcohol the opposite can happen… I become more active and excitable and if you’re like me and become active with certain alcohol, the sleepiness is offset by the fact that one of the CNS (central nervous system) functions gets lowered disproportionately when you drink and effects the part of your frontal lobes that inhibits impulses. When you’re drunk, if you feel like doing something you’re far more likely than normal to just do it rather than think about it. The increased level of activity from that disinhibition will keep people awake… for a time.
Alcohol and its effects on the human body are much more dynamic than that. “Alcohol is commonly labeled as a depressant (as opposed to a stimulant), but this is wholly dependent on the amount consumed and the arc of consumption. It is only when blood-alcohol content (BAC) is descending that alcohol triggers fatigue and relaxation – the sedative side of booze.”
“Moderate” wine consumption is said to be good for health. But what is “moderate” wine consumption? “How much wine can you drink in one sitting before the health benefits turn into dangers depends on many factors, including the person’s size, age, sex, body stature and general state of health, as well as whether it is being consumed with food or on an empty stomach.” (Medical News Today)
According to “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010”, published by the US Department of Agriculture, “If alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation – up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men”.
The National Health Service, UK, writes “Men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day. Women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day.” One unit equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. A 250ml (large) glass of 12% red wine has about 3 units of alcohol. A 175ml (medium) glass has about two units.
Wine has it’s benefits and disadvantages but taking a couple of alcohol-free days can make a difference. I am a big fan of alcohol-free days. When I do, by day 2 I feel fresher, more on top of work and far happier in my relationships. Indeed, many medical experts recommend taking regular days off from drinking to ensure you don’t become addicted to alcohol.
“The added complication is that while alcohol can make you sleepy, it will decrease the quality of your sleep, so it is not a good strategy for dealing with insomnia.” (Quora) I believe the previous statement to be true, a few days without wine I notice an improvement in my sleep habits.
Try to avoid drinking wine (alcohol) close to bedtime. Give your body time to process the alcohol you’ve drunk before you try to sleep – on average it takes an hour to process one unit, but this can vary from person to person.
Cutting back or paying attention to your wine intake can do wonders in the short term, as you feel the fog lift and the spring return to your step.
