9. Excess Alcohol
The glass of wine that barely registered in your 20s hits differently after 40. Your liver’s ability to metabolize alcohol slows with age, which means each drink lingers in your system longer and puts more strain on the organ over time. Regular drinking is also linked to higher blood pressure, disrupted sleep, and extra empty calories that settle as stubborn weight. It can interact with medications too, something more people start taking by their 40s. Keeping it to a drink or less most days, and alternating with water, keeps the social enjoyment without the long-term cost.
