If You are over 50, Should You Switch from Alcohol to Cannabis ASAP?

people over 50 switching to cannabis

If You’re Over 50, You Should Consider Switching From Alcohol To Weed

Alcohol is one of the most dangerous substances on earth. Despite being notorious for its carcinogenic properties, alcohol has become part of society and culture, accepted in nearly every western nation as a means of relaxing or having fun.

While there were several decades wherein alcohol enjoyed a spotless reputation, more people are now becoming educated about the dangers of drinking even a few glasses a week. Yet, it can be so difficult to quit drinking completely because booze is literally everywhere: it’s easily accessible in shops, groceries, and bars all over. Society has normalized drinking alcohol as a way to unwind and bond with loved ones.

That said, the dangers of drinking alcohol begin to creep up as you get older. Even a few drinks can pose serious health risks, so if you’re approaching 50 and still drinking, it’s time for you to reconsider the substances you use to unwind.

Here’s why:

As you get older, your body becomes increasingly sensitive to the impact of alcohol. It’s more serious than hangovers getting worse: once you hit your 30’s, muscle mass gradually declines each decade, and it speeds up after you hit your 60’s. The reduction in your body mass and body water causes higher blood alcohol concentrations in your system, in other words, you’ll get drunk faster, even if you’ve always drank the same amount.

The consequences for this mean a greater risk of injury and falls.

Medical conditions can get worse. By the time you hit your forties, if you have had any health issues in the past, they may only get worse with continued alcohol consumption. Whether it’s high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other condition that can get worse with age, it will similarly worsen with alcohol consumption. To add salt to injury, continually drinking alcohol when you already have certain health problems can cause new complications, such as cognitive disorders, osteoporosis, and a significantly increased risk of cancer.
Drinking alcohol speeds up the aging process. Research shows that drinking alcohol over long periods of time has a negative impact on your biological age, most especially if you still engage in binge-drinking. Additionally, continued alcohol consumption will harm your heart, liver, and brain – putting these organs in greater risk of disease.

It may be time to give up drinking, but that doesn’t mean that the fun has to end. Just switch it up with cannabis.

Why You Should Be Consuming Weed Instead

Switching up your substance of choice from alcohol to cannabis can have profound effects on your health, particularly as you age. There are so many different ways you can consume weed discreetly; while smoking pot is not for everyone, you can experiment with capsules, oils, tinctures, edibles, and even beverages.

As you get older, it can be easy to see how you can benefit from the therapeutic effects of cannabis, especially CBD. Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound in the hemp plant, which means that it won’t get you high. Its anti-inflammatory properties and calming effects make CBD the drug of choice for the middle to older aged individuals, who still need something to “take the edge off” without having to worry about any side effects.

Other benefits of cannabis for aging include:

Pain relief: As we get older, things suddenly start to hurt more, even for seemingly no reason. Chronic or frequent attacks of acute pain in different parts of the body become normal and even expected in your mid to late forties, but it doesn’t have to be a way of life. Cannabis provides excellent pain relieving properties, especially in cases that are related to neuropathy, arthritis, muscle pain, back pain, headaches, and much more. Making cannabis part of your lifestyle can alleviate pain and make it easy to stay active.
Better sleep: Older adults commonly experience sleep issues. It can be difficult to fall asleep, and even stay asleep. All of this becomes much worse if you drink alcohol. However, medicating with weed is one of the best ways to enjoy deep sleep, naturally. Many people have found that giving up over-the-counter sleep aids has helped, when they turned to weed instead, to help mitigate sleep issues.
Mental health: Whether it’s hormones, new types of stressors, or just life getting in the way, aging can make us prone to anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. Dealing with physical health problems and functional impairments can increase the risk of anxiety and depression. But medicating with cannabis can make these thoughts and problems more bearable.
Relaxation: You deserve to relax more in your old age. A little weed, no matter how you prefer to take it, can heighten the pleasures that come with relaxation. It can also enhance your overall well-being and reduce stress.

Conclusion

Ditch the bottle and say hello to weed!

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and are thinking about ways to improve your overall wellbeing, quitting alcohol is one of the best things you can do today. In the meantime, replacing it with marijuana can offer a vast range of benefits for your physical and menta health. In doing so, you’ll also reduce the risks involved with aging, and improve management of age-related conditions including chronic pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and much more.

Reminder: Older adults are recommended to consult your healthcare provider about using cannabis especially if you are already on medications.