When it comes to alcohol consumption, many mixed messages have been tossed about. On the one hand, some health benefits have been linked with a moderate consumption of alcohol. However, on the other hand, it can be highly addictive and toxic when you drink too much of it.
The truth of the matter is that the health effects of alcohol are really quite complex, and they tend to vary from person to person depending on their current health status, the amount consumed and the type of alcoholic drink.
What is alcohol?
The active ingredient in alcoholic beverages is called ethanol. This is the substance that may be effective in making you drink. It is produced by yeasts when they digest sugar in some carbohydrate rich foods. In alcohol beverages, these are grapes (wine) and grains (beer).
How much does affect your health?
Alcohol and Liver Disease
- The liver is an amazing organ with hundreds of responsibilities and functions within your body. One of its main functions is to neutralize the toxic substances you consume including drugs and alcohol. It is for this reason that the liver is vulnerable to damage caused by high alcohol intake;
- Liver disease caused by alcohol is called fatty liver disease which is the first alcoholic liver disease to appear;
- Liver cirrhosis is the next disease to appear. This liver disease is irreversible and is caused by excessive and long term binge drinking.
Alcohol and the Brain
Excessive ethanol consumption can pose a long term threat on brain function.1 However, a moderate consumption of one to six drinks per week has been linked with a lower risk of incident dementia amongst older adults.2
How much is too much?
Moderate drinking is defined as 1 standard drink per day for a woman and 2 for a man. Heavy drinking is defined as 3 standard drinks per day for a woman and 4 for a man.
Which alcoholic beverage holds is the least bad?
Red wine appears to have the highest amount of health benefits due to its antioxidant content. However, it is important to remember that over consumption of any alcoholic beverage will outweigh its health benefits.
References
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20617045
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12636463
