What are the benefits of high-grade drinks for the human body? Correct doses and frequency of drinking. What are the benefits of alcohol in small doses

Namochi Mantou

evidence-based medicine

About the benefits and harms of alcohol

“Alcohol in small doses is good for any amount” is a joke that doctors like to remember, explaining why they prefer not to tell patients about the possible benefits of moderate drinking. There is no doubt that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health. But over moderate doses, battles have been going on for more than a year.

First you need to understand what "moderate use" is. The fact is that in different countries the norms are very different. Differences start with what counts as one "serving" (or "drink"): in the UK, for example, this is 8 grams of alcohol, while in Japan it is almost 20. In the USA, 14 grams of alcohol is considered a serving: this is the equivalent of 350 milliliters (about a can of ) beer, 150 milliliters (about a glass) of wine or 45 milliliters (about a glass) of vodka.

Accordingly, ideas about when to stop are also different everywhere. In the UK, 3-4 drinks (i.e. 24-32 grams of alcohol) per day for a man are considered "not to cause noticeable harm to health"; for women, this is 2-3 servings (16-24 grams). In Japan, men are officially advised to drink no more than two servings of sake a day (39.5 grams of alcohol); there are no guidelines for women. Finally, in the US, men are advised to drink no more than two servings a day (28 grams), and women - no more than one (14 grams). By the way, the norms for women are less, not only because they usually weigh less, but also because of gender differences in alcohol metabolism.

Different ideas about moderation lead to some confusion in talking about the benefits and harms of "moderate drinking", but still, usually in such cases we are talking about 10-30 grams of alcohol per day. And, apparently, any alcohol: attempts to find out which drinks are better for health and which are worse (for example, whether red wine really has benefits) did not give convincing results.

It should be noted that there is a serious problem with the science of the benefits and harms of alcohol: long-term randomized studies (that is, those where people would be randomly divided into groups and some were given alcohol for a long time, while others were not) were not conducted on this topic. All existing works can be divided into two types: short-term, studying the effect of alcohol on specific physiological parameters, and long-term observational, which usually compares the health of those who drink moderately and those who do not drink at all. But there are problems with both types of studies: short-term studies can only detect short-term effects, and long-term observational studies lack randomization, that is, the randomness of distribution. The group of those who do not drink at all may include, for example, people with an alcohol dependence in the past or people with serious illnesses, including mental illnesses - and these factors can greatly affect their life expectancy and, accordingly, their results.

Benefit or harm

However, in the absence of other scientific evidence, one has to rely on what is available. Numerous studies in different countries ( , , ) have shown that people who drink alcohol moderately have slightly lower mortality rates than teetotalers. A meta-analysis of 34 papers on this topic found that the lowest mortality rate was among those men and women who consumed an average of 6 grams of alcohol (that is, about half the American drink) per day.

Such studies have severe critics: the authors of several review analyzes ( , ) argue that many works on this topic contain errors and, for example, if people with alcohol dependence in the past are excluded from the “teetotalers” group, then the apparent healing effect of drinking small doses practically disappears.

In any case, it is important here not to fall into the temptation to see persistent causal relationships where, in fact, there is only correlation. Mortality rates, even in a large sample, can be influenced by hundreds of different factors that are very difficult to take into account in a study. Just because moderate drinkers live longer doesn't necessarily mean that it's alcohol that lengthens their lives. Although there are grounds for such an assumption.

Benefit

A large number of scientific papers have shown the association of moderate alcohol consumption with a reduced risk of developing a wide variety of problems of the cardiovascular system. Among them are coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, peripheral arterial disease. Alcohol is associated with lower mortality in people with high blood pressure.

Some studies show that light drinkers - both women and men - have a lower risk of developing gallstones compared to teetotalers.

Fairly strong evidence exists that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

However, all these positive effects disappear with an increase in the amount of alcohol - usually after 3-4 drinks per day in men and 2-3 in women. That is, with more intensive use of alcohol, the association with positive health indicators is lost and a negative correlation begins to be noted: the more you drink, the worse your health. Graphs in so many studies on this topic resemble the letter "J": with moderate use, morbidity / mortality goes down a little compared to the "zero" level of use, and then linearly up with increasing dose.

Harm

But with the possible benefits of moderate drinking, everything is, of course, not so simple. Even light alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer. This is especially pronounced with breast cancer in women: according to some reports, up to 8 percent of breast cancer cases can be associated with a woman's drinking. Alcohol is associated with an increased risk of developing head and neck tumors (especially when combined with smoking), hepatocellular cancer in people with hepatitis C, and colorectal cancer (although data are conflicting).

While pancreatic cancer is associated only with heavy drinking (for example, 57 drinks per week for men), and the same can be said for pancreatitis: apparently, its increased risk is associated only with the use of large doses of alcohol.

It should be added that even a slight consumption of alcohol, according to some reports, can increase the risk of injury.

To drink or not to drink

Given the multitude of these factors, physicians around the world are reluctant to advise patients to deliberately consume alcohol "for health." The position of the World Health Organization is not completely clear: the WHO European office believes that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, although one of the WHO reports refers to a “low-risk” level - no more than 20 grams per day five days a week. And yet, most of the world's recommendations say: if a person drinks anyway, then he can continue to drink, but in moderation. Many studies refer specifically to American norms (for example, they are contained in the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2015-2020") - no more than two servings (14 grams of pure alcohol, corresponding, let me remind you, about a glass of wine, a can of beer or a glass of vodka) per day for men and no more than one for non-pregnant women.

Alcohol is definitely not indicated for pregnant women: although scientists do not have enough data to talk about the dangers of small doses of alcohol for the fetus, it has not yet been possible to establish a safe level of consumption, so it is best not to tempt fate. In addition, refraining from even moderate consumption is worthwhile for those who once had an alcohol dependence or a history of alcoholism in the family, and anyone who has alcohol-related diseases of the liver or pancreas.

Karina Nazaretyan

Now around the world there is an active promotion of a healthy lifestyle, which calls for the abandonment of strong drinks. And this is the right decision, because drinking alcoholic beverages is not recommended: they are harmful to health and lead to irreversible consequences. But is alcohol so harmful to the body, as its opponents say about it? Why is alcohol necessary in small doses for the human body and what positive effects does it have? How does the athlete's body react to alcohol, what kind of alcohol can be consumed? This will be discussed in more detail below.

About the beneficial properties of alcohol has been said since the time of the great lecturer Avicenna. In the 18th century, scientists officially proved with their experiments why the body needs alcohol:

Every day it is recommended to consume no more than 25 ml of pure alcohol. If you refuse this amount, then there will be no negative consequences. 25 ml is the optimal rate, which is well tolerated by the body. Positive effects are observed in people who take a reasonable amount of strong drinks daily. They experience less stress they have a healthier cardiovascular system, the risk of heart attacks and strokes is reduced, the negative effects of hypertension and angina pectoris are smoothed out. Alcohol is considered to prevent type 2 diabetes.

In people who consume 25 milliliters of alcohol every day, there is a decrease in swelling, restoration of the nervous system. Reasonable alcohol consumption has a good effect on brain performance, a person has a surge of creative power, lymphoma is prevented, immunity is strengthened, and the number of infectious diseases is reduced. If a person has refused the reasonable use of strong drinks, then he will not have any negative effects.

Many people point out other positive aspects as well.. For example, people who suffer from anemia or anemia say that after drinking a glass of red wine every day before bed, they observed a decrease in dizziness and migraines. Their blood pressure increased, which had previously been very low. The benefits of strong drinks for women who took half a glass per day were noticed. For many, the menstrual cycle improved, and the skin became cleaner and silkier. This is due to the content of antioxidants and vitamins in wine.

In order for the body to have a positive effect from drinking intoxicating drinks, it is important not only to know when and how much to drink, but also to understand that each drink has a different effect on the body. Knowing these properties, you can calculate the positive effects of strong drinks on the body.

The influence of various drinks

Wine

At all times, wine was considered a noble alcoholic drink, which in ancient Greece was equal to the blood of the gods. Previously, this drink was considered a panacea for the human body. Those people who took wine daily suffered less from cardiovascular diseases, they remained young and beautiful longer. Wine was given to wounded soldiers so that they undergo pain shock and accelerate blood clotting.

The benefits of wine for the human body are very large. The drink helps protect the heart and blood vessels from wear, the risk of plaque deposition is reduced, there is a rush of blood to the brain, thus, its work is accelerated. This effect is observed due to fructose, antioxidants and vitamins of groups B and K, which are contained in the drink.

Beer

Almost any supporter of proper nutrition will say that beer is a useless and harmful product. But this statement is wrong if we talk about reasonable doses of the drink.

Some people get addicted to beer during feasts drink several liters at a time. The allowable dose of beer per day is 350 ml. This amount of drink is not recommended to eat with snacks, chips or salted fish, because they contain empty and harmful fats that have a toxic effect on humans. Snacks should be replaced with dried fruits or unsalted raw nuts. Doctors recommend drinking a small amount of beer with honey and dried fruits several times a week. This combination will help to forget about heart ischemia, kidney disease and hormonal disorders.

Cognac and vodka

It is permissible to use cognac or vodka based on vegetable, fruit or herbal tinctures in the fight against infectious diseases. To fight diseases it is necessary drink one shot before bed. Then you need to cover yourself with several blankets. Many people experience noticeable relief the next morning. This treatment should not be used in children under 14 years of age. Adults can be treated like this for no more than a week, so that there is no harm to the liver.

Impact on the athlete's body

Many argue that athletes involved in physical activity should not consume hard liquor. Is it true? What reaction does alcohol have on the body of an athlete? What are the effective consequences and what drinks can be consumed?

Athletes can drink half a glass red wine several times in 7 days. Their heart worked actively and received long-term stress, so to reduce stress, you need to get antioxidants, which are contained in sufficient quantities in wine.

Alcohol has benefits for athletes if taken in reasonable amounts. The daily dose for such people is reduced by 2 times. Thus, no more than 10 ml of purified alcohol can be consumed per day. Alcohol has on the human body not only harmful but also a beneficial effect. The main thing is to monitor the quality of alcohol. It is also necessary to take into account the daily dose, which should not be more than 25 ml of pure alcohol per day - this is half a glass of cognac or vodka, or a glass of red wine.

Almost all doctors argue that alcoholic beverages can cause irreparable harm to the human body. But among the people there is an opinion that harm or benefit depends on some circumstances. For example, a glass of red wine at dinner becomes the key to longevity and good mood. In medicine, the harm from alcohol has been proven by many studies. But there is still debate about the extent of the damage to health from alcohol. To date, the discussion continues on the topic: Is there a safe dose of alcohol for humans?

1. Many doctors call alcohol a drug.
2. The human body can become addicted, both psychologically and physically.
3. Irregular and inconsistent intake of strong drinks can lead to addiction.

The path from drunkenness to alcoholism, which doctors rank as a serious illness, is not long. This disease requires medical treatment. This path begins with a glass of vodka or a bottle of beer on holidays. Each person has individual metabolic characteristics that affect the development of an addiction in a person, which subsequently leads to alcoholism. Doctors who are supporters of anti-alcohol propaganda, use a powerful factor: ethyl alcohol, which is contained in strong drinks, has a negative effect on the internal organs of a person. Such a substance for the cellular composition of the body is foreign.

If you regularly use an intoxicating drink, then it begins to corrode a person from the inside. Alcohol has a negative effect on the body as a whole. Eg;

• destruction of brain cells occurs;
• there is a decrease in the ability to respond adequately and quickly;
• brain activity is suppressed.

An intoxicating drink has a depressing effect on the central nervous system. As a rule, a drunk person can behave inappropriately and irresponsibly. A decrease in the will of a person is noticed. Damaged internal organs e.g. kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract. Sexual function and reproductive function suffer from excessive consumption of intoxicating drinks.

If you drink an excessive amount of beer, then the production of the female hormone predominates in the male body. As a result, this leads to sexual dysfunction and other bad changes. Excessive alcohol consumption by women leads to problems during pregnancy and childbirth. Everyone knows that alcoholic beverages have a negative impact on a person's appearance. Alcohol is bad for the condition of hair, skin and nails.

Before drinking an alcoholic drink, you need to weigh the pros and cons and think about whether the body needs damage from taking alcohol for the sake of having fun? Women should remember that for them the danger lies in the disruption of the reproductive system. An intoxicating drink has a devastating effect on healthy eggs in the female body.

Among women who are of puberty, the risk of having a handicapped baby or with congenital pathologies increases. The following anomalies may be observed in the crumbs: mental retardation, damage to internal organs and developmental delay. If you take alcohol in an amount of more than 55 g at a time (the dose is calculated for an adult), then this can be fatal.

Myths about alcohol

There are various myths about the dangers of alcohol. The harm from alcoholic beverages has been proven by many doctors. Everyone knows that alcohol has a negative impact on the health of men and women. Many people know that poison can become medicine if consumed in small quantities. Many poisons are used for medicinal purposes as an antidote or medicine. This method is not new in medicine.

There are extensive discussions among specialists on the topic of the harm and benefits of alcohol. This topic has become the subject of extensive medical research, because the drinking of alcoholic beverages is included in the life of Russians at the household level. In medicine, there are examples in which the effect of alcohol on the human body has a positive effect.

If it is taken in small doses, then the level of cholesterol in the blood will decrease, it will happen, it will stimulate blood circulation in the body - this is effective in combating the formation of blood clots. Physicians recently conducted research and revealed the following statistics: patients who had a myocardial infarction died less often if they consumed a small amount of alcoholic beverages daily. A heart attack is more common in teetotalers.

1. Tea or coffee advertisements say that these drinks contain antioxidants that help a person stay young longer.
2. But wine and beer also contain antioxidants. Everyone knows an example from the history of the Great Patriotic War, when soldiers took 100 g before the battle and defended their homeland.
3. A glass of vodka, needed by soldiers for courage, helped to concentrate attention and added courage in battle. Many musicians note that they drink a glass of Cahors to practice their voice.

Vodka with pepper or wine is one of the traditional medicines for ARVI and colds. If the patient feels that his condition worsens in case of a cold, then it is necessary to drink a small amount of strong alcoholic beverage. This will help boost immunity and relieve cold symptoms such as fever, sore throat and runny nose. It is difficult to judge the justification for such an impact of an intoxicating drink on the human body. It should be noted that the respondents who talk about the benefits of alcohol used it in moderation. If you know your measure of the dose of alcohol, then you can avoid the negative consequences that often lead to domestic tragedies.

Doctors' opinions

Does alcohol benefit or harm - this issue is often discussed by doctors who observe the changes that occur in the body after taking an intoxicating drink. The dangers of drinking alcohol are scientifically proven. In life, there are many examples of the negative consequences of immoderate alcohol intake. The benefits of alcohol by many scientists questioned, but still every day people continue to take alcohol.

Qualified doctors say that alcohol leads to internal imbalance, and emotional dependence also occurs. It refers to bad habits. A person cannot identify the problem on their own. This is the negative effects of alcohol on the human body.

Alcohol-based medicines

In pharmacies, you can find many drugs that are made on the basis of alcohol. But they are taken in drops and bring great benefits to the body.

1. Alcohol tinctures are recommended by doctors for heart patients. For example, Corvalol and Valocordin.
2. A tincture of motherwort or valerian will calm restless and agitated patients.
3. If the patient has an upset stomach, doctors often recommend drinking vodka with salt or pepper. To get rid of syndromes, a glass is enough.
4. Garlic tincture will have a beneficial effect in the cold season. Thanks to it, immunity increases.
5. In Russia, the traditional way to fight the flu is vodka with pepper. If you drink it in a small amount, for example, 35 g, then you can relieve a headache if there are no pills at hand.
6. Hot drinks come to the rescue with stress or toothache.

The benefits of vodka for colds

Vodka in the fight against inflammation: alcohol has a dilating effect on blood vessels, thus increasing blood flow to diseased organs. It helps to get rid of migraines. Vodka has a disinfecting ability that will prove useful in the treatment of stomach or sore throats.

The intensity of the cough is reduced by warming the pharynx when taking alcohol. A strong drink has a good effect on local immunity. Everyone knows that vodka has an analgesic effect.

It must be remembered that there are undoubtedly benefits for signs of a cold from strong drinks. But alcohol treatment is not a substitute for professional medical care.

The impact of cognac

This drink is highly appreciated by lovers of alcoholic products. If you drink 35 g of cognac, it will help expand blood vessels and normalize blood pressure. If the drink is consumed in moderate doses, it helps in getting rid of angina and migraine attacks. The tannins contained in the drink help in the absorption of ascorbic acid by the body.

With poor appetite, you need to use cognac, it will also help relieve stomach cramps. This drink is especially effective during the cold season. If you drink tea with cognac, it has a supporting effect on the immune system. Warm cognac has a therapeutic effect on sore throats. It is used for rinsing in a warm form. If you drink honey cognac with lemon, it will help in lowering hyperthermia.

If the cognac is slightly warmed up and used Together with honey, you can cure bronchitis. With a toothache, you need to wet a cotton swab and put it on a sore spot. And another tampon moistened with cognac should be placed near the ear from the side of the diseased tooth. To improve memory, it is recommended to drink no more than 20 grams of cognac daily.

Attention, only TODAY!

For many, the words alcohol and harm have long stood in one associative array. The fact that a person is an avid lover of strong drinks automatically suggests that he has a series of concomitant diseases. Needless to say, such a habit negatively affects not only the lover of a glass or two, but also the people around him.

But while some doctors are sounding the alarm and advising to stop drinking alcohol for the sake of their own good and the health of society as a whole, another part insists that alcohol can be not only harmful, but also beneficial. You just need to know what to drink and in what doses.

The alcohol production industry is well developed, and today hundreds of varieties of different types of alcohol are produced all over the world. It is impossible to list them all, but this is not required. You should know that all alcohol is divided into three types:

• Weak;
• Medium;
• Strong.

Already from the names it is clear that the division of alcohol into types directly depends on its strength.

So, low-alcohol drinks include drinks with an alcohol content of 2.8% to 9.5%. The most common representatives of this group are beer, kvass, cider, toddy, canned cocktails, mash. Some of them are very popular in our country, such as beer. But Toddy is exotic. It is produced in some Asian countries, where it is very popular.

The medium-alcohol category includes drinks with an alcohol content of 9.5% to 30%. The most popular representative of this group is wine. But champagne, mead, punch and sake are also known to many. Each of these drinks has its own production recipe and consumption culture.

The third group includes strong alcohol, these are drinks with an alcohol content of at least 30% - 80%. Representatives of this species include vodka, rum, cognac, brandy, gin, liquor, tinctures, absinthe, whiskey, sambuca, tequila.

Reasons for drinking alcohol

1. Social environment. Alcohol is not a vital human need. By itself, it has no motivating force. But the need for it arises because, firstly, society produces this product in huge quantities and it is easily available; secondly, there are a number of prejudices associated with alcohol. The presence of free time and the reluctance to look for other ways to relax, except for a glass of wine, leads to a direct dependence of society on this drink.
2. Fashion. This reason for drinking alcohol is inherent in adolescents. Not wanting to lag behind their peers, many guys do not consider it necessary to refuse a glass or two in a noisy group of peers. The fragile psyche of a teenager may not be able to cope, and soon an addiction to alcohol will surely arise.
3. Family traditions. A lot depends on the traditions and customs that each particular family observes. Children imitate their parents and, even as babies, develop a certain attitude towards alcohol. Simply put, if a child sees constantly drinking parents, he perceives this as a common occurrence. He already has an installation that drinking is the norm. It is unlikely that he will have to wait for other behavior in the future.
4. Alcoholic traditions. Many countries have their own historically established customs based on alcoholic beverages. When planning to celebrate a birthday, a new year, a wedding, drinking is necessarily implied. Without it, the table is considered incomplete, and the holiday failed. To come to visit and not miss a glass for the health of the hosts is equated with disrespect.
5. Illusion. This is a fairly common reason for drinking alcohol. A person tries to escape from problems, to renounce reality. But in reality, the problems from such behavior are only exacerbated, growing like a snowball. Over time, another one is added to them - alcoholism.
6. Physiological dependence. There are situations when a person really has a physical inclination to drink alcohol. Children of alcoholics are primarily at risk. The baby, while still in the womb, regularly receives a portion of alcohol, because women who are dependent on alcohol are not deterred from drinking even by pregnancy. It is not uncommon for a mother to breastfeed her baby after birth while intoxicated. Do not hesitate to give the baby beer so that he sleeps better. Such a child has practically no chance to grow up as a healthy person, free from alcohol addiction.

All of these reasons for drinking alcohol can be grouped into three main ones: physiological, psychological and social. But in fact, it doesn’t matter what exactly was the reason for addiction to alcohol, it is important to find a way to give it up, find the strength in yourself to change your life and get rid of harmful cravings.

What harm is alcohol

It is unlikely that there will be at least one person who, foaming at the mouth, will prove that alcohol is not harmful. Everyone knows that drinking has a negative effect on the body. But are we aware of all the harmful consequences of this addiction?

Brain

Almost the biggest harm alcohol does to the brain. Frequent abuse of alcohol-containing drinks of different strengths causes intoxication of the body. The consequence of this process is a violation of oxygen access to neurons. Even children know about the result of oxygen starvation for the brain - brain cells die, but they do not know how to recover. In the best case, depression of brain function may occur, but alcoholic dementia is not excluded.

There are conflicting opinions about the dangers of alcohol on the heart. Someone is convinced that alcohol is more good for the heart than harm. And scientific evidence does not refute this opinion, emphasizing that alcohol is really useful, but in small doses. In a large volume, it does nothing but harm in itself.

Affecting the heart muscle, alcohol leads not only to serious diseases, but also can provoke death. X-rays of the heart in a person taking alcohol in large portions show a strong increase in this organ. Violation of the heart rate can occur even in a previously healthy person. Alcohol abuse often causes a heart attack and hypertension.

Many are mistaken in believing that only strong alcohol is harmful to heart health.

A bottle of light beer is equal to 60 grams of vodka in terms of alcohol content, and this is no longer as harmless as it seemed at first. Many do not know, but to preserve beer foam, some manufacturers add cobalt to their product. What is the risk? Cobalt accumulates in the heart muscle and provokes deformation and growth of muscle tissue.

Carbon dioxide, which is contained in alcoholic beverages, does not have the best effect on blood vessels. As a result, the appearance of dilated veins and vessels is inevitable.

Respiratory system

For many, the fact that alcohol negatively affects the respiratory system becomes a real revelation, but such is the reality. Poisonous vapors released as a result of drinking alcohol-containing drinks turn into condensate on the pulmonary membrane. In the future, this will certainly cause a deterioration in the condition of the respiratory system.

Already at the first stage of alcoholism, a person is faced with the problem of rapid breathing. The lungs are forced to work in an enhanced mode in order to efficiently supply the body with oxygen. Rapid breathing, in turn, leads to drying of the mucous membrane. As a result, pathogenic bacteria settle on it. The risk of getting tuberculosis, bronchitis, emphysema increases significantly.

The harm that alcohol does to the digestive system cannot be overestimated. Alcohol, getting into the body, comes into contact with the gastric mucosa, irritating it. Even a small amount of alcohol leads to increased secretion of gastric juice, which in the long run can cause gastritis, ulcers and other pathological changes in the digestive system. In the near future, alcohol may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even bleeding.

At the same time, the process of digestion of food becomes more difficult, the assimilation of vital proteins and vitamins becomes more complicated. The reason is that alcohol reduces the amount of an enzyme secreted by the pancreas to break down food. And there is no qualitative assimilation of incoming substances. As a result, a person receives less vital elements.

Liver

People who drink alcohol regularly. know firsthand that the liver does not forgive the excessive intake of this drink. It is the main filter of the body, and performs an antitoxic function. Everything that enters the human body necessarily passes through the liver. Not surprisingly, the negative effects of alcohol affect this organ like no other.

After absorption into the blood, alcohol enters the liver, where alcohol is metabolized, it is split into separate components, and alcohol is neutralized due to enzymes. And if a small amount goes through this process without difficulty, then with frequent abuse, the liver wears out and ceases to perform its function qualitatively. It starts irreversible processes. Hepatocytes are destroyed and fat cells take their place. What causes fatty liver disease.

Alcoholic hepatitis is another disease that threatens lovers of strong drinks. It develops slowly, over 5-10 years, and its symptoms are similar to a number of other liver diseases.

Cirrhosis of the liver is the most unfavorable outcome for all alcohol lovers. It is incurable. The difficulty lies in the fact that the disease develops without clear symptoms, and those that appear are similar to alcoholic hepatitis. The outcome of the disease is disappointing. Most patients die as a result of bleeding and dilated esophageal veins.

To say that alcohol is detrimental to the kidneys is to say nothing, they cannot exist together. When drinking alcohol-containing drinks, the kidneys are forced to switch to an enhanced mode of operation, trying to remove toxic substances from the body as quickly as possible. Such a race does not pass without a trace, especially if a person constantly abuses alcohol.

Some beer lovers justify their addiction to this drink by saying that it dissolves kidney stones. In fact, it's not like that at all. Beer significantly increases the load on the kidneys, provoking urolithiasis.

The most common diseases of the urinary system that occur as a result of drinking alcohol are inflammatory processes, pathological changes in the adrenal glands, intoxication, degeneration of renal failure, and stones.

Nervous system

The nervous system is programmed for two main processes - inhibition and excitation. When alcohol enters the body, the balance between these two processes is disturbed. Inhibitory processes are suppressed, while activity increases. This becomes the cause of inadequate behavior, the higher the dose taken, the more inadequate the actions.

Already at 0.04-0.05% alcohol in the blood, control is lost. With an increase in concentration to 0.1%, the parts of the brain responsible for coordination are suppressed.

At the same time, there is a fuss, increased revival. But there are those who, upon reaching this mark, feel the desire to sleep. With an increase in the content of ethanol in the blood to -0.2%, instincts begin to come to the fore, aggression appears in behavior. At 0.3%, often the consciousness of a person is completely turned off. The surrounding reality ceases to be perceived adequately.

The fact that alcohol negatively affects the human immune system is not generally accepted as true. Many believe that this statement has no basis. However, most alcoholic beverages do have a negative effect on the metabolism of proteins in immune cells, which directly leads to dysfunction of the immune system.

A healthy immune system produces immunoglobulin - antibodies to various foreign bacteria. With regular use of strong alcoholic beverages, this ability of the body is reduced to a minimum. A depressed immune system is not able to resist illnesses due to an insufficient amount of proteins produced. As a result, a person easily falls ill with all kinds of infectious diseases.

The probability of activation of already existing viruses increases, the risk of developing an immunodeficiency virus increases. The body is prone to fungal, bacterial, viral infections. Any disease in a lover of strong drinks is more severe than in a person leading a sober lifestyle.

sexual function

Harm of alcohol for men's health

Against the background of the regular use of alcoholic beverages, there is a decrease in sexual function, which inevitably leads to various depressions and neuroses in men. Sex cells react sharply to any foreign substances. Alcohol and tobacco are among their worst enemies. Especially harmful is their effect on a young growing organism during puberty.

It has been scientifically proven that alcohol abuse leads to a decrease in ejaculate by more than 45%, while sperm motility decreases by 4%. It is also confirmed that if a man's alcoholic experience is not too great, as soon as he stops drinking alcohol, the quality of the ejaculate is restored completely.

A drinking man jeopardizes his endocrine activity of the genitals. Periodically there is a perversion of the synthesis of hormones. With regular use, the reproduction of sex hormones steadily falls. Even a single intake of alcohol leads to an inevitable decrease in testosterone by 20% over the next 12 hours. Already an hour after the first glass, alcohol penetrates the testes of a man.

Impotence is a fairly common disease among lovers of alcoholic beverages. It is believed that eight out of ten heavy drinkers suffer from some form of this disease. This may be erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, alcohol can cause a decrease in libido. All of these symptoms may appear alone or in combination. In 80% of cases, 6-8 months after a man stopped drinking, his sexual function is restored almost in full. If alcohol is not given up, pathological changes will progress further.

Harm of alcohol for the female body

It has long been proven that the effect of alcohol on the female body is much harder than on the male. The fact that female alcoholism is incurable is not news, but a fact. Due to alcoholism, there is not only a decrease in reproductive function, but the pregnancy that has already taken place is much more difficult, with a high risk of various kinds of pathologies in the baby. At the same time, there is a huge probability that menopause in a woman with alcohol dependence will occur much earlier than in a healthy woman.

Many women tend to choose alcohol with a reduced alcohol content, believing that it is less hazardous to health. But this is a big misconception. Small doses of low-alcohol drinks are very harmful to the ovaries. Periodically occurring intoxication against the background of alcohol taken leads to the fact that the tissues in the ovaries stop working and fat comes in their place. Needless to say, the eggs that reproduce in this organ are subjected to pressure from fat cells, which prevents them from fully maturing.

The hormonal background is also negatively affected by alcohol. Often a woman develops a perverted sexual desire, quite often sexual coldness is noted - frigidity. In women suffering from alcoholism, a manifestation of masculinization is noted - the appearance of secondary male sexual characteristics. They appear in the coarsening of facial features, voices, increased hairiness of the arms, legs and even the face. Often the figure of a woman is also transformed, the stomach begins to grow, the waist blurs.

As soon as a woman stops abusing alcohol and stops drinking, her hormonal levels gradually level off and the reproductive system is fully restored. True, for the full conception of a healthy child, a lot of time must pass.

By the way, the addiction to drinking also affects the appearance of a woman not in the best way. Due to severe dehydration, a woman's skin quickly ages, becomes dry and lifeless. And since alcohol dilates blood vessels, the face eventually acquires a reddish-purple hue. Often there are capillary asterisks - these are bursting vessels.

The positive effect of alcohol

So much harm is caused by alcoholic products to the human body, which is simply amazing how humanity has not yet abandoned it completely. But not everything is so depressing. Scientists who have proven the harmful effects of alcohol on the human body almost unanimously assure that alcohol can be useful, you just need to know when to stop. The therapeutic portion of alcohol is 20 g of alcohol per day. This volume of alcohol is contained in 30 g of vodka, 300 g of beer and 100 g of wine. It is worth noting that this norm is derived for the male body. For a woman, these parameters are two times less.

It should be borne in mind that different alcoholic beverages are designed to fight various ailments.

• Red wine is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis, improves metabolism, cleanses the body of toxins and toxins.
• White wine and champagne are able to eliminate minor malfunctions in the heart.
• Mulled wine is often recommended for colds, bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Beer in small portions reduces the risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, the aging process can also recede.
• Vodka lowers cholesterol. Doctors recommend 25-30 grams of this product to people who are forced to breathe polluted air. By lowering blood sugar, the risk of developing diabetes decreases.

Vodka is also used to prepare various tinctures. The addition of garlic, herbs, spices changes the possibilities of the drink, expanding its medicinal properties.

Some components that make up alcohol help to actively fight certain infections. But we are talking only about natural drinks. But we should not forget that in some situations alcohol is dangerous even in small doses. If a person does not know how to control the amount of alcohol consumed, it is better not to create provocative situations.

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For those who are interested in the positive properties of alcoholic beverages, this article provides interesting facts about the benefits of different alcohol and tips on how to use it correctly.

Today in the world there is an active promotion of a healthy lifestyle, calling for the complete abandonment of alcohol. Such a decision is quite rational, because excessive consumption of hot drinks can cause negative consequences and irreversible changes. But is it as harmful to the human body as its opponents say? Why alcohol is needed in small doses for a person, what are its positive effects, how the athlete's body reacts to it, and when and what drinks should be taken to help your body, read below.

The benefits of alcohol

The fact that alcohol is very useful has been said since the time of the great doctor Avicenna, and in the 18th century it was officially proven by several experiments why alcohol is needed. Two groups participated in the processes: “sober-drinkers” and those who consumed 20 ml of pure alcohol each (such an amount is contained in a glass of dry red wine). The second group had a marked decrease in the frequency of infectious diseases, and their mortality was 6% lower than non-drinkers.

Based on the results of the experiment, it can be argued that alcohol is good for the human body, but only when its daily consumption does not exceed 20 ml of pure alcohol. After giving up the daily use of such a dose, there will be no negative consequences, because. this amount is normally tolerated by the body.

What positive effects are observed in those who take a reasonable amount of alcohol daily? It should be noted:

• reduction of stress;
• beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system;
• reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes;
• smoothing the negative effects of hypertension and angina pectoris;
• prevention of diabetes insipidus (type 2);
• reduction of puffiness;
• improvement of the nervous system;
• positive effect on brain function;
• surge of creative forces;
• prevention of lymphoma;
• strengthening immunity, reducing the number of infectious diseases;
• after giving up the correct use of alcohol, there will be no negative effects.

Many see other positive effects as well. For example, patients with anemia or anemia claim that after regularly drinking half a glass of red wine before bed, the number of dizziness and migraines has decreased, and blood pressure has increased, which they usually have very low. It was seen to be beneficial for a woman who takes half a glass of drink a day - many of the surveyed improved their menstrual cycle and improved skin condition. This is all due to the increased content of antioxidants and vitamins in wine.

What are the benefits of drinks

In order to improve your own health, you need not only to know when and how much alcohol to drink. The benefits of each alcoholic drink for the human body are different, so knowing their features can only have positive consequences.

Wine

Wine is a truly noble alcohol, which since ancient Greece has been equated with the blood of the Gods. Previously, this drink was considered a real panacea for the body, because those who take it daily suffered much less from heart disease, remained young and beautiful much longer. It was given even to wounded soldiers in order to reduce pain shock and accelerate blood clotting.

The positive effects of wine come from the grape's antioxidants, which are stored and concentrated when the fruit is fermented to make a hot drink. When choosing a wine for healing, it is important to pay attention to its composition, which should not contain various powder or sweetening ingredients.

The benefits of wine for a person are great, because it protects the heart and blood vessels from wear, reduces the risk of plaque deposition, improves blood flow to the brain, speeding up its work. This is due to fructose, antioxidants, vitamins B and K contained in the drink.

Beer

Every active supporter of proper nutrition will argue that beer is a useless and harmful product. But this is fundamentally wrong regarding reasonable doses of the drink! After all, real beer contains only natural ingredients: hops and malt from wheat or barley. The first ingredient helps to restore the hormonal background for girls, because hop cones contain phytohormones that are similar to female estrogen. Malt is formed when barley or wheat germinates. This germ sugar contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals that are absorbed in the body.

Many are too fond of beer during feasts, drinking a few liters. But the normal daily dose is 300 ml of drink per day. Also, you can’t eat it with snacks, nuts, chips or salted fish, because they contain empty, harmful fats that poison a person. Replace them with unsalted raw nuts or dried fruits.

Those who drink a small amount of beer with dried fruits and honey several times a week can forget about heart ischemia, hormonal disorders and kidney disease.

Vodka and cognac

You can use vodka or cognac in the form of herbal, fruit, vegetable or berry tinctures to fight infectious diseases! It is enough to drink 1 shot before going to bed, and then go to bed under several blankets. The next morning, the condition will improve markedly. But such treatment cannot be used for children under 14 years of age, and for adults, its duration does not exceed a week, so as not to harm the liver.

Athlete's body and alcohol

Many argue that people who exercise should not drink alcohol at all, but is this true? How does the athlete's body react to alcohol, what can be the positive consequences for them and what drinks can you drink?

For example, beer contains a lot of simple sugar, which is necessary for those trying to gain mass in the gym. After training, you do not need to drink it in liters, just drink 250 ml of dark high-quality beer, then there is a quick recharge and muscle recovery.

Athletes can afford half a glass of red wine several times a week, because their heart is actively working during prolonged exercise, so to smooth out the effects of stress, you need to get a dose of antioxidants, which are rich in wine.

Alcohol is good for athletes, but only for those who take it in reasonable amounts. The daily dose for such people is halved, that is, you can consume no more than 10 ml of pure alcohol per day.

Alcohol can be not only harmful, but also beneficial for the human body, the main thing is to monitor its quality, and also take into account your daily dose, which should not exceed 20 ml. pure alcohol per day (this is half a glass of vodka or cognac, a glass of red wine).

Hello dear readers! Today let's raise a sensitive topic that many care about, but the truth about which is often hushed up. So, at gunpoint, the well-known alcohol is the benefits and harms of its use. Did you think that alcohol is equally harmful for everyone?

That an alcoholic is an unemployed, degraded person? That drinking moderately will still become addicted? That the statistics of deaths from alcohol addiction are fiction? Let's try to find out if this is true!

Features of perception

Scientists have found that susceptibility to alcohol and its tolerance directly depend on the nationality of the drinker. So the European genotype of consumers of alcoholic beverages in the process of drinking experiences a surge of strength, euphoria, and the detrimental consequences of such libations come after many years.

It should be understood that such consequences are inevitable with the active consumption of alcoholic beverages. Usually they manifest themselves in a violation of health, in the form of:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• myocardial dystrophy;
• pancreatitis;
• gastritis;
• hemolytic anemia;
• polyneuritis or polyneuropathy;
• amnestic syndrome.

But the Asian genotype (Japan, China) experiences symptoms of poisoning and intoxication after small doses of alcoholic beverages. And everything is to blame for accelerated metabolic processes and the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which in Eastern people quickly transforms into acetaldehyde.

Perhaps that is why the eastern countries are rarely found in the ratings of the most alcoholic. Remember that terrible hangover feeling that covers the body the next day after drinking? An Eastern person experiences the same sensations even while drinking alcohol! That is why health care occupies him more than thoughts of relaxation.

Workaholic vs Alcoholic

The opinion that an alcoholic is an unemployed, aimlessly burning life person has been refuted quite recently. The stereotype was debunked by harsh statistics, according to which a person engaged in a work process from 50 hours a week, which is a little more than a standard working day or a 6-day working week, suffers from alcohol addiction more often than others.

The study was conducted by New Zealand scientists for 30 years on a group of enthusiasts born in 1977. The conclusion is simple, the more intensively a person is involved at work, the more often he needs to relax. And what, no matter how alcohol is most effective in this matter!

Russian scientists conducted similar studies, the result of which is not encouraging. Constant stress, the frantic rhythm of megacities and workload leads people to regular consumption of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, exposure to such unloading is recorded more often at the age of 25 to 45 years.

Addiction comes from childhood

In Russia, things are somewhat different. Alcoholism in the country has become much younger, which caused concern and a lot of controversy in scientific circles. Studying the phenomenon of rampant drunkenness, scientists came to the conclusion that alcohol addiction can form even in childhood.

And this is not about the genetic theory of its origin. Eating habits are to blame. So in the traditional diet of formula-fed infants, kefir is always present, containing alkaloids in small doses (the alkaloid salsolinol is one of the causes of alcohol dependence).

Kvass is also nothing more than a natural product of fermentation and contains small doses of ethanol. The consumption of these drinks is unlikely to lead to addiction, there is no evidence for this, but it is capable of developing eating habits.

Drinking culture

Alcoholism itself is not such an ancient diagnosis, although the history of alcoholic beverages goes back to ancient times. If we consider it as a poison, then it is worth remembering that poison in small doses only benefits health. A moderate consumption of alcoholic products:

• trains blood vessels;
• contributes to the inhibition of the aging process;
• increases concentration and reaction rate;
• prevents colds.

We are talking about quality alcoholic beverages, mainly wine and vodka. In addition to ethanol and alkaloids, alcoholic beverages contain naturally occurring antioxidants that are beneficial to health.

Alcoholism cause of death

In the direct sense, alcoholism can kill many years after the decision to take part in the alcohol marathon. Why does propaganda keep saying that the death rate from alcohol is increasing every year? The reason for this is overuse.

1. Poisoning by alcohol and surrogates.
2. Murder and crime.
3. Accidents and accidents.
4. Strokes and heart attacks.
5. Suicide.

According to WHO, alcohol sends more than 2.5 million people to the world every year! Only from alcohol poisoning, Russia annually sees off 0.5 million citizens on their last journey.

A little about the benefits

Branded by medicine and elevated to the status of evil on a universal scale, alcohol, in fact, can be very useful.

Pure vodka is an excellent antioxidant, and it also removes toxins from the lungs of people working in factories where the air is polluted. It has a beneficial effect on digestion, curbing cholesterol levels. It is excellent at lowering blood sugar levels, which is also beneficial for health.

In combination with salt, it copes well with indigestion, with garlic it cleanses blood vessels and improves tone, and with hot pepper it becomes a prophylactic against acute respiratory infections. In addition, many herbal tinctures are made on the basis of alcohol, but at the same time they only benefit health!

Outcome

Summing up, I want to talk about personal observations. My body is very susceptible to alcoholic products, and knowing this feature, I do not abuse its intake. But I cannot deny myself the pleasure of having a glass of cognac or tart wine, or drinking vodka on occasion.

If we consider alcohol solely from the point of view of benefits, you need to clearly understand at what point your blood vessels expanded, you received a positive charge and stop. Try introducing an aperitif into your diet, as it has long been called a glass of alcohol before eating. It not only awakens the appetite, but also prepares the stomach for food!

You will be surprised to learn that moderate drinkers are much less prone to various health disorders than frank teetotalers. And the long-livers of the Caucasus from adolescence use natural wines made from local grape varieties.

Very soon I will write an article about the useful daily intake of alcohol. I'm sure it will be interesting. Subscribe to my blog updates, share useful information on social networks and don't forget to leave comments!!

See you soon, Pavel Dorofeev.