Why Does It Get Harder to Process Alcohol As We Age?

In your 20's you could drink all night and go for a run the next day. Now, a single drink or two takes days to overcome.

Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash

I get asked this question all the time.

In fact, on a recent podcast interview with Tamsen Fadal, one of her first questions for me was “why can’t I process alcohol like I used to?”

Tamsen shared that in her 50’s, even a single drink can sometimes make her feel moody, fatigued, and generally “off” for a few days.

While much of my work is rooted in alcohol reduction and elimination, I often speak to broader audiences about the physiology of alcohol and how it influences the body.

But, if you’re drinking alcohol and feeling even worse than you used to afterwards, here’s why…