Alcohol and Health – Pros and Cons
Some pros and cons of alcoholic beverages consumption. As almost everyone knows, alcoholic beverages of all types and/or presentations are part of the diet of great part of the population. Most consumers (if not all) have a favorite alcoholic beverage, either for reasons of taste, reaction, custom, family, etc.
How many of us have thought about the possible damage to health in the short, medium or long term of alcohol comsumption?
It is well known that alcohol abuse contributes to developing liver disease, a variety of cancers, hypertension, stroke, and a progressive weakening of the heart muscle.
While it is true that there are moderate drinkers, it is also true that many do not bear in mind factors such as ingestion of drugs in conjunction with this type of beverage. Even some medicinal herbs can have harmful effects when combined with alcohol. In fact, alcohol and drugs can interact harmfully even if they are not taken at the same time.
Another important example of mistakes that can be commited when they consume their favourite drink is do not consume any type of food for many hours or at meal time, because if the stomach is empty the absorption is the most rapid and intense and there takes place irritation of the stomach walls, whereas with full stomach, the same amount of alcohol is absorbed more slowly and with less intensity and less irritation occurs in the stomach wall.
Another big mistake is to consume different types of alcoholic beverages simultaneously, so is not to drink plenty of fluids between drinks containing alcohol. This helps to consume less alcohol and also decrease the dehydration associated with consumption of this substance.
And what about the benefits of alcoholic beverages in the appropriate dose? Many have already heard about the virtues of red wine as a friend of the heart and mental health because substances such as polyphenols, which have antioxidant action that benefits the health of the heart, arteries and therefore the brain.
Today it is known that alcohol in moderation is a good helper for our health, especially for the heart. But while alcohol in general (with caution of course) decreases the risk of diseases of the heart and arteries, red wine is the best.
Many people have a drink before dinner to get relaxed after a hard day, and occasional drinks with friends can be a social tonic. These physical and psychological effects can improve the health and feeling good.
So every time you want to consume any alcoholic beverage remember you can make a small difference, after all what you want is to enjoy a good taste or its stimulating effect, that as we all know have to end sooner or later. Instead, after taking a heavy dose of alcohol will only be all the typical problems of alcoholism.
Drink in moderation. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that women should not consume more than one drink per day and men no more than two drinks. One drink is defined as the amount of a 12-ounce (340 mL) bottle of beer, a glass of wine, four ounces (118 ml) or 1 1 / 2 ounce (44 ml) of liquor.
