Myth About Alcohol

One of the liquid which is of major interest to both men and women, irrespective of age, is alcohol. Alcohol, as a beverage contains about 3- 4% ethanol. Most of the countries are manufacturing, trading and devouring these products under specified laws and regulations.

The great dilemma faced by public health officials is the benefits and risks of alcohol. Several studies show that alcohol consumption prevents the risks of death due to heart problems, stroke and various other causes.

But similarly, death rates due to excessive alcohol consumption are also huge. Drinking moderately can be very much beneficial. But most of the people cannot control the consumption to the moderate level.

Moderate drinking can cut short the deaths due to heart failure considerably. Women after menopause, can use alcohol to reduce the increased risks of heart diseases.

It also helps to keep away other ailments like; respiratory illness, stroke, and certain types of cancer. On the other side, heavy drinking leads to mouth cancer, lung cancer as well as throat cancer.

The incidence of adult- onset diabetes also can be controlled by moderate drinking. Alcohol raises the blood levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. This ‘good ’cholesterol helps to carry plaques produced by the ‘bad’ cholesterol or LDL (low density cholesterol) from the artery walls to the liver to break them down.

The more the HDL, the lesser the risk of heart diseases. Alcohol can raise the level of HDL significantly. Two drinks a day boosts it by 17%. This boosting power of alcohol is responsible the prevention of heart diseases.

Formation of blood clots that blocks the arteries, which may be narrowed by heart diseases, also causes heart attacks. Alcohol inhibits the formation of such clots and also enhances the ability of the body to break up these clots as soon as they are formed. Alcohol also cuts down the formation of arterial muscle cells, which in turn contributes to the narrowing of coronary arteries.

Certain alcoholic beverages contain antioxidants in them. These antioxidants help to neutralize the free radicals, preventing damage to LDL. Only when damaged, these LDL becomes problematic. Ex., Flavanoids, an antioxidant, seen in red wine, broccoli, and apples.

A woman who takes a single drink a day, is less likely to develop high blood pressure when compared to one who doesn’t drink at all. But if the drink is increased to twice, then she is at the risk of developing colon cancer, as alcohol interferes with the body’s absorption of folic acid.

There is a gender bias when it comes to the amount that can be consumed daily. Women tend to be smaller and have less blood volume when compared to men. The enzymes produced by women to break down the alcohol are comparatively less than men.

It is better to take alcohol along with food, as the nutrients in food will hinder the absorption of the alcohol. Also, pregnant women should prevent heavy drinking, as it may cause fetal alcohol syndrome and create neurological and behavioral problems in infants.

Middle aged men drinking more than 6 bottles of beer at once, are at high risk of a fatal heart attack. They also tend to die seven times more violent. 

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