One Drink A Day? Benefits And Harms

There is much controversy about the benefits and harms of alcohol. Many studies and studies provide conflicting and unclear information about the number of spirits that can be consumed and their impact on our health.
Unfortunately, even experts do not agree on whether the benefits of alcohol outweigh the risks. The balance between the benefits and harms of alcohol depends on many factors - health, medical history, age, gender, weight and mental status.

We offer you several positive and several negative consequences of alcohol consumption. This makes it easier for everyone to decide for themselves whether to give up completely or continue to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.

Health benefits

Good for the heart. Studies show that moderate alcohol consumption - one drink a day for women and two for men - reduces the risk of heart attacks in middle-aged people by 30 to 50%. It also reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. If you have had a heart attack, alcohol can also play a positive role in preventing another. It has also been found to reduce the likelihood of dying from a heart attack. Alcohol increases the level of "good" cholesterol, which reduces the risk of atherosclerosis.

Useful for the brain. If your blood pressure is normal, alcohol can prevent you from having a stroke (blocking an artery that supplies blood to the brain). It can help prevent blood clots and reduce damage to blood vessels caused by fat deposits.

Other benefits. Small amounts of alcohol reduce the risk of blockage of the arteries of the legs (peripheral arterial disease), as well as senility and Alzheimer's.
There is no unanimity on which is better - wine, beer or concentrate. Some studies have concluded that wine is better because it contains beneficial ingredients such as resveratrol, but others have documented the same benefits in other types of alcohol.

Harm to health

When considering the potential benefits of alcohol, keep in mind the dangers. Research provides conflicting information, and many of it is only preliminary. Alcohol abuse can lead to accidents, emotional problems and alcoholism.

Even small amounts of alcohol can have negative effects on your health. It can:
• slow down mental activity, lower attention, impair coordination and slow down reactions;
• cause headaches;
• to increase blood pressure;
• cause heartburn.

Excessive drinking increases the risk of accidents and falls, and over time damages the liver, heart, kidneys, lungs; increases the risk of stroke, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and obesity.

The American Cancer Union reports that large amounts of alcohol increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, liver and breast.
In addition, alcohol interacts with many drugs (with or without a prescription). It may weaken the effect of some beta-blockers and is dangerous in combination with tranquilizers, hypnotics, antihistamines and painkillers. Combining alcohol with aspirin increases the risk of stomach bleeding, and alcohol plus acetaminophen increases the risk of liver damage.

Some people should not drink at all due to health problems: high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation), liver disease, ulcers, acute acid reflux, sleep apnea.

Pregnant women, nursing mothers and women who want to get pregnant are not recommended to drink. Also people in whose families there are cases of alcoholism.

Everything in moderation

It is best - if you drink at all - to be moderate. This means one drink a day for women and two for men. One drink means 340 ml of beer, 143 ml of wine or 43 ml of concentrate.
Due to age changes, older people process alcohol more slowly. They get drunk with a smaller amount and the effect is long lasting.

If you do not drink in general, no doctor will advise you to start. But if you drink and are healthy, there is no reason to give up, as long as you do it responsibly and in moderation.