“Alcohol”

By Karen Stauffer
Nutritionist

A great many Musicians have problems with alcohol. There may be several reasons for this.

First of all, there can be a hereditary weakness towards alcohol dependency. If relatives have problems, be warned that you may develop one too. (This applies to everyone, not just Musicians)

Second, Musicians tend to be sensitive people who may look to alcohol to deaden the slings and arrows of daily disappointments and injuries. Being a Musician is often not an easy life, and it’s normal to look for relief.

Third alcohol is regularly consumed in many places Musicians play. Parties, weddings, bars and restaurants all encourage consumption. Your fellow musicians can also encourage you to drink, either out of hospitality or to make their own consumption levels seem more reasonable by comparison.

On the other hand, for someone without a drinking problem, an occasional drink can be pleasant, relaxing and even carry some health benefits. Red wine has antioxidant properties when used in moderation (no more than one glass a day), and the relaxation and better circulation may help you as well.

Listen to your family. If they tell you that they are concerned about your drinking, you probably drink too much. If you have found alcohol-creating problems in your personal and professional life, get help. Your doctor and phone directories are two good places to start.

Once you have help, there are things you can do also to help yourself. Kudzu capsules, an herb, stabilizes the blood sugar (alcohol is metabolized like sugar) and may help dull the desires to drink. Don’t fall into the sugar trap by eating excessive sweets as compensation for avoiding alcohol. That will make quitting harder in the long run, as it perpetuates abnormal metabolism.

So, what about us that aren’t alcoholics, but want to minimize the damage caused by alcohol? Everyone who drinks overindulges occasionally, and while there is no “sober-up pill”, there are hangover minimizer pills. Source Naturals makes one called “Hangover Formula”, combining vitamins, minerals, amino acids and Chinese and Western herbs. This will replace vitamins lost by drinking and help eliminate toxic by-products of alcohol metabolism (what actually causes hangovers).

A complete daily vitamin high in the B Complex is an absolute necessity. Your body is able to deal with an occasional insult if it’s generally healthy and well provided for.

If you feel the need for a relaxing beverage, Kava-Kava can fill that need. Powder or liquid can be mixed with cold water to produce something that tastes no worse than liquor and gives a similar glow. There’s even a beverage called “Soma” brewed like beer, using relaxing herbs. This is available at health food stores, and makes a great beer substitute.

Remember some of the most successful Musicians avoid alcohol and other intoxicants. It doesn’t matter how brilliant or talented you are – if drinking makes you unreliable, your career will go nowhere. Promoters avoid “problem drinkers” and you may find band mates will cut you out if you threaten to drag down their careers. Even one missed practice or gig is too much if you missed it because of alcohol. And fans speak with disgust of performances ruined because the talented Musician they came to see was plastered onstage. (I know - I’ve witnessed at least three such instances personally) You don’t have to be drunk all the time for problems to arise-just at the wrong time, or too often.

So, alcohol is both our enemy and our friend, and since you can’t avoid all places you may encounter it, be prepared to drink something else.

By the way, my favorite non-alcoholic drink in a bar: half OJ, half sparkling water, with a wedge of lime.

Karen Stauffer

"River of Life Natural Foods"

1-800-651-3820

KarenStauffer@aol.com

[Karen's advice is not meant to replace the advice of a physician. 
If you think you have a medical problem, see your doctor]