 
| ALCOHOL Alcohol, or ethyl alcohol (ethanol), refers to the intoxicating ingredient found in wine, beer and spirits. Alcohol arises naturally from carbohydrates when certain micro-organisms metabolize them in the absence of oxygen, called fermentation. Beer, wine and spirits contain different amounts of alcohol. The amount of alcohol in distilled liquor is known as “proof”. Proof refers to the amount of alcohol in the liquor; for example, 100 proof liquor contains 50% alcohol, 40 proof liquor contains 20% alcohol, and so on. Traditional wine has approximately 8-14% alcohol, while regular beer has 4-6% alcohol. |
Alcohol affects the body's ability to absorb most of the B vitamins and zinc. It's ironic that the B vitamins play a role in counteracting stress, and that many people use alcohol, which interferes with B vitamin absorption, to counter stress. They little realise that while it may work in the short run, in the long run it is definitely counter-productive, because among other things it undermines some of the nutrients necessary to combat stress. Recent studies show that moderate use of alcohol may have a beneficial effect on the coronary system. In general, for healthy people, one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men would be considered the maximum amount of alcohol consumption to be considered moderate use. (By “healthy” people, we are referring to non-pregnant women, individuals not addicted to alcohol, and people without pre-existing medical conditions, among others). However, the amount of alcohol that a person can drink safely is highly individual, depending on genetics, age, sex, weight and family history, etc. |
Health Effects of Alcohol Consumption | Arthritis | Increases risk of gout & arthritis |
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| Cancer | Increases the risk of cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus |
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| Foetal Alcohol Syndrome | Causes physical and behavioural abnormalities in the foetus |
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| Heart Disease | Raises blood pressure, blood lipids and the risk of stroke and heart disease in heavy drinkers. Heart disease is generally lower in light to moderate drinkers. |
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| Diabetes | Raises blood glucose |
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| Hypoglycaemia | Lowers blood glucose, especially for people with diabetes |
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| Kidney Disease | Enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions, and increases the risk of kidney failure |
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| Liver Disease | Causes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis |
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| Malnutrition | Increases the risk of protein-energy malnutrition,; low intakes of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6 and riboflavin, and impaired absorption of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and zinc. |
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| Nervous Disorders | Causes neuropathy and dementia; impairs balance and memory |
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| Obesity | Increases energy intake, but not a primary cause of obesity |
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| Psychological disturbances | Causes depression, anxiety and insomnia |
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How Alcohol Travels Through the Body
Alcohol is metabolized extremely quickly by the body. Unlike foods, which require time for digestion, alcohol needs no digestion and is quickly absorbed. Alcohol gets “VIP” treatment in the body – absorbing and metabolizing before most other nutrients. About 20 percent is absorbed directly across the walls of an empty stomach and can reach the brain within one minute. Once alcohol reaches the stomach, it begins to break down with the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme. This process reduces the amount of alcohol entering the blood by approximately 20%. (Women produce less of this enzyme, which may help to partially explain why women become more intoxicated on less alcohol than men.). In addition, about 10% of the alcohol is expelled in the breath and urine. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed in the upper portion of the small intestine. The alcohol-laden blood then travels to the liver via the veins and capillaries of the digestive tract, which affects nearly every liver cell. The liver cells are the only cells in our body that can produce enough of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase to oxidize alcohol at an appreciable rate. Though alcohol affects every organ of the body, it’s most dramatic impact is upon the liver. The liver cells normally prefer fatty acids as fuel, and package excess fatty acids as triglycerides, which they then route to other tissues of the body. However, when alcohol is present, the liver cells are forced to first metabolize the alcohol, letting the fatty acids accumulate, sometimes in huge amounts. Alcohol metabolism permanently changes liver cell structure, which impairs the liver’s ability to metabolize fats. This explains why heavy drinkers tend to develop fatty livers. Alcohol and Malnutrition
For moderate drinkers, alcohol does not suppress food intake, and may actually increase appetite. Chronic alcohol consumption appears to have the opposite effect. Alcohol causes euphoria, which depresses appetite, so that heavy drinkers tend to eat poorly and become malnourished. Alcohol is very rich in energy, packing 7 calories per gram. But like pure sugar or fat, the calories are void of nutrients. The more calories an individual consumes in alcohol, the less likely it is that they will eat enough food to obtain adequate nutrients. To make matters worse, chronic alcohol abuse not only displaces calories from needed nutrients, but also interferes with the body’s metabolism of nutrients, leading to damage of the liver, digestive system, and nearly every bodily organ. See illustration: 
Visit these related websites:
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
www.aa-uk.org.uk Find an AA meeting near you.
www.re-cover.org.uk
www.perryclaymanproject.org.uk - Treat clients with drugs abuse and alcohol related problems specialising in treating users particularly of Crack Cocaine, Powdered Cocaine, Heroin, Alcohol and Gambling.
www.addictions.co.uk - Help with all addictions - alcohol, drugs, gambling, shopping, internet, food, exercise
NB. The information given here are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.
If you are in any doubt about your health, please consult your GP. DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is not intended to diagnose medical problems, prescribe remedies for illness, or treat disease. It's intention is solely educational. I would strongly encourage you to use this information in cooperation with a medical or health professional. back to top>>
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