The most famous consequence of alcohol consumption is liver disease. Many myths are about the lesser dangers of drinking vodka, beer, or wine. All alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is a potentially toxic substance, so there is no small or useful dose.
The negative consequences of alcohol consumption, even in small doses, are possible, but for a longer period of time.
Why is alcohol harmful to health?
If alcohol is consumed frequently and excessively, it can not only lead to addiction, but can also be the cause of many organic diseases. Ethanol itself and its constituents in the production of alcoholic beverages can be harmful to health.
Most commonly affects the following organs:
- liver (alcoholic liver steatosis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver);
- stomach (stomach ulcer, dyspepsia);
- colon (colon cancer);
- pancreas (pancreatitis).
Alcohol is very toxic and addictive. This is why it is so difficult for many to stop drinking immediately and without consequences. The lethal dose of ethanol is about 8 g / l body weight. Therefore, when drinking beer, vodka or beverages, remember to keep moderation in terms of both the amount and frequency of consumption. Alcohol is the source of so-called empty calories. Consumption in large quantities leads to the development of overweight (1 g of ethanol-7 kcal).
Alcoholic beverages contribute to the development of various diseases and aggravate the symptoms of existing ones.
Therefore, it is worth drinking small amounts, you can choose drinks that are potentially less harmful. Caution should be exercised with certain compounds that degrade the toxicity of ethanol. But even if you follow these rules, the negative consequences of drinking will be felt sooner or later
What determines the harmful effects of alcohol?
The effects of alcohol on the body depend on a number of factors. The most important are the type and amount of ethanol consumed, gender, genetic factors, time and route of consumption, type of drugs used, and general health. Similarly, the effectiveness of alcoholism treatment also depends on.
Concomitant use of alcohol and smoking is extremely harmful to the body.
A strong link between alcohol and development has been shown:
- oral tumors;
- tonsil tumors;
- throat cancer.
The risk of developing these tumors increases by 30% in people who drink alcohol. By the time alcohol is combined with smoking, the risk triples. Alcohol consumption and smoking simultaneously increase the risk of negative effects of alcohol and severe hangover.
One of the most common mistakes in developing a hangover is drinking alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach. This speeds up the absorption of alcohol and increases the symptoms of a hangover the next day.
Various flavors, such as making drinks and combining a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, also contribute to a hangover. The slightest hangover occurs after swallowing good quality, good vodkas.
Ethanol poisoning can also occur with alcohol consumption. Symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting;
- dizziness;
- diarrhea;
- dehydration
Safe drinks - what does it mean
Numerous scientific studies (from different centers around the world) report the beneficial effects of very small amounts of alcohol on the functioning of individual organs.
A small amount of alcohol is 20 to 40 grams of pure ethyl alcohol. Roughly speaking, this is
- a small bottle of beer;
- a glass of wine;
- 40 ml of vodka
Recommendations should not be seen as an incentive to consume alcoholic beverages, much less for regular, daily consumption. It is important to recall the negative consequences of alcohol consumption, even in small quantities, which can lead to drug addiction.
Many beer and wine consumers can be tricked into the so-calledto study safe alcohol intake.
An acceptable daily intake has been approved, which in theory should not have a negative effect on the human body, for women it is 20 g of alcohol per day, which is equivalent to a small jug of beer or a glass of wine. For men, 40 g of alcohol per day. These restrictions assume that you consume no more than five times a week. Even these amounts can be addictive and cause serious damage to health.
It should be noted that women are more easily addicted to alcohol than a man. They also have slower metabolic processes to extract alcohol. When a woman drinks the same alcohol, her blood levels reach a higher level than a man's.
Can alcohol have a positive effect?
It doesn't matter what kind of alcohol everyone consumes and how much. Whether or not it exceeds the dose deemed safe, it can still lead to illness and drug addiction. They say it’s never too late to stop drinking, the sooner you do, the better. This will avoid its negative effects on the whole body.
Several studies have shown that a small amount of alcohol consumed daily increases the amount of so-called good HDL cholesterol. HDL particles work more positively than bad cholesterol (LDL). This is the only way the body can remove cholesterol.
Here again, it should be noted that the role of alcohol is an exception and is only used in very small doses. A small amount of alcohol does not affect all cholesterol. Research has shown that excessive alcohol consumption leads to an increase in cholesterol parameters, on the contrary.
You can often read about the health benefits of drinking wine and beer. In fact, they contain substances that can have a positive effect on the body. For example, quercetin and resveratrol in red wine have beneficial effects on the heart and vascular system. These are called antioxidants.
However, other, least safe foods are also sources of antioxidants: red grapes, berries, apples, nuts. The negative consequences of alcohol consumption here are much more than good.
How many calories and what ingredients do alcoholic beverages contain?
The wine contains 8, 5-18% ethanol. The caloric content of wine depends on its variety. Sweet wines contain the most calories (about 94-104 kcal / 100 g). Dry wine provides a minimum calorie (65-68 kcal / 100 g). The wine contains:
- flavonoids;
- tannins;
- organic acids;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- hardware;
- Group B vitamins.
Red, dry wine is the least harmful and low in calories and contains the most antioxidants. Although the content of many valuable compounds is quite high, wine is an alcoholic beverage containing pure ethanol. This means that the negative consequences of alcohol consumption are possible even in this form.
The alcohol content of beer is very varied - between 0, 2 and 9-10%. Beer, of course, is about 49 kcal / 100 g, while dark beer contains more calories because it is about 68 kcal per 100 g.
Beer contains especially antioxidants and B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus. You will find plenty of information about the beneficial effects of beer on the urinary system. But beer is also a source of ethanol. It has a beneficial effect on the urinary system, but it does not exceed the loss of the body.
High quality vodka, liqueurs, cognacs contain the largest amount of ethyl alcohol - 15-80%. They are also very high in calories, with vodka at about 220 kcal / 100 g.
No matter what the minimum dose of alcohol consumed, it still has a devastating effect on the whole body. Don’t fall for false facts about the benefits of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is definitely an unnecessary substance and is sometimes dangerous to the functioning of organs and systems. Treating alcoholism is a very complex and often lengthy procedure that requires special efforts by the patient, relatives, and medical staff. The negative consequences of alcohol consumption will be much more severe than the pleasure of drunk drinking.