Alcoholic beverages are far from the last among food products. Friends, significant joyful and mournful dates, even just to increase appetite - everything goes with the use of alcohol. However, intoxicating drinks differ in strength content, which does not bring a positive effect to a person. Therefore, you need to know which alcohol is less harmful to the body.
Alcohol Hazard Classification
Any food containing at least 1. 5% ethyl alcohol is alcoholic. Ethanol drinks are systematized by the level of C₂H₅OH, the type of raw materials used, the type of production and the aging criterion.
Alcohol:
- low content - beer, wine;
- high - vodka, sugar cane rum, gin, grain whiskey, grape brandy and more.
All drinks are made from different types of raw materials.
The former can be divided into the following categories:
- based on grapes - cognac, wine, Italian grappa;
- grains - whiskey, beer groups, vodka;
- fruit and berry - apple calvados, liqueur, liqueur;
- herbal - balm, rum, Mexican tequila, absinthe.
Each alcoholic beverage has its own ethanol content.
The presence of the latter can be split like this:
- high - from 67 to 96% of the container volume;
- normal - from 31 to 66;
- average - from 9 to 30;
- low - from 1. 5 to 9.
The last line includes everyone's favorite beer, low alcoholic national products, kvass, palm toddy, shandy.
Medium ethanol drinks are represented by wines, mulled wine, punch, mead.
The top step is occupied by vodka, armagnac, tequila, rum, absinthe and other intoxicating liquids. Drinking ethyl alcohol is the leader. The alcohol volume reaches 95%.
It is believed that the main harm to health is caused by the degree of the drink, however, using weak alcohol-containing products, you can cause damage no less than strong ones.
Characteristics of less harmful alcohol
Judgments about intoxicating liquids vary considerably. Some nutritionists argue that drinking beverages is healthy, while others are detrimental to health.
The criteria for the least harmful alcohol include the following factors:
- The degree of its quality.
- The amount of ethanol.
- Flavor additions.
- Performance.
According to medical experts, vodka is considered less harmful to health. Of course, this condition is met with minimal use.
This conclusion is conditioned by the following factors:
- low calorie content;
- absence of a harmful carbonyl group;
- by the simplicity of an alcoholic liquid - water with alcohol.
Eaten quality product almost never causes a hangover syndrome. But this does not mean that you can drink vodka without measure. To prevent poisoning, fatty foods should be a snack.
However, experts characterize authentic grape wines as the least safe alcohol in relation to the liver. The bush fruit has no harmful residue. If you do not separate the skin from the berries, you get a red wine, recognized as the most beneficial to health.
This is due to the fact that the vitamins in the shell pass into a liquid alcoholic medium, saturate the body with microelements, organic nitrogenous compounds.
Antioxidants improve the functioning of the circulatory system and rejuvenate cells. Wine is successfully used to isolate the extract from it, which is used for the manufacture of injections and various cosmetics.
The effect of alcohol on the body
Alcohol is considered one of the most powerful, harmful poisons and is equated to a drug. In addition to addiction, a heady drink negatively affects the work of external and internal human organs. By gradually killing cells, alcohol contributes to the development of many chronic pathologies.
Table of the negative effects of alcohol on the main human organs:
| Internal organs and systems | Effect of alcoholic beverages |
|---|---|
| GIT | • destruction of the small intestine; • doctors often fix a burn of the larynx; • development of duodenal ulcers; • chronic gastritis; • the work of the digestive tract is disrupted; • food settles in the form of toxins and begins to decompose. |
| Liver | The cells of this organ are most susceptible to the influence of alcohol, since it is involved in processing and splitting at the molecular level. However, this is not the main function of the liver. After a short time, its wear occurs, its size decreases. Ultimately, the body will not be able to eliminate toxins. Diseases of this organ lead to brain pathologies and death. |
| Vessels and heart | • an increase in the size of the heart muscle; • scarring; • heart attack; • death. |
| Nervous system | Alcohol quickly dissolves fat, which is 60% in nerve cells. Therefore, C₂H₅OH molecules are actively absorbed, settle, which leads to excitation of the central nervous system, and the body relaxes. As a result, intoxication occurs. Over time, alcohol builds up and slows down the nerve endings. |
| Reproductive function | The effect of alcohol on the male body: • decrease in sperm motility; • sexual impotence; • infertility. Risks from alcohol use in women: • failure of the menstrual cycle; • narrowing of the fallopian tubes; • reduction of the uterus; • the egg does not have time to mature; • infertility. |
| Brain Activity | Even a supposedly permissible dose of alcohol (50 grams per day) eliminates several 1000 neurons in the brain. This impact cannot be reversed. Ethanol provokes the gluing of erythrocytes, as a result of which capillary blockage develops. Further, cells die, and oxygen starvation occurs. |
| Respiratory system | Drinking alcohol is associated with the following lung diseases: • arrhythmia; • chronic diseases; • hypertension; • tuberculosis; • inflammation. |
| Kidneys | The kidneys get the greatest harm when drinking alcohol, because under the influence of alcohol they are forced to work several times harder, removing toxins. |
| Immune System | The damage to the immunity from alcohol lies in the deficiency of essential vitamins, macro- and microelements. In addition, dehydration, increased work of other organs and systems do not allow the protective forces to restore human health. |
Liver and alcohol
The most susceptible to alcoholic beverages is the liver. It processes 90% of the fluids used by humans, including harmful ones. The cells of the organ quickly die, are replaced by fat, the ducts contract, and the body itself is significantly reduced in size.
The condition leads to the formation of an incurable disease - alcoholic cirrhosis. The internal organ does not perform an antitoxic function, which leads to the slow death of a person. Any drink containing alcohol is harmful, since it includes additional harmful components.
The table below summarizes some of them:
| Beer | The most harmful alcoholic beverage. There is a diuretic effect that increases the content of poison in the blood. |
| Cocktails and energy |
These foods include many food additives, dyes that have a negative effect on the liver. |
| Sparkling wine |
Carbon dioxide increases the absorption of alcohol in the digestive tract, exceeding the permissible norm. |
| Sweet liquor drinks |
Contains a lot of sucrose, which increases the burden on the liver. |
Looking at the appendix, we can say that absent alcoholic beverages do not have a strong effect on the liver, regardless of their strength or production characteristics.
The effect of alcohol on the stomach
Alcohol is a chemical substance that is almost completely absorbed by the body, but intensifies the production of active harmful oxygen groups. The element oxidizes cellular tissue, organs of the digestive tract.
Even a small amount of alcohol consumed causes the stomach to produce high levels of acid, which subsequently turns into gastritis, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and internal bleeding. A similar condition can lead to cancers of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, tongue and pancreas.
The least harmful result of drinking is reflux, which burns the mucous membrane of the larynx produced by acid. The appearance of an ulcer - an open painful wound on the inner walls of the stomach, is another fact of excessive consumption of an intoxicated drink.
The condition makes it difficult to digest food, disrupts the metabolic process. Alcohol reduces the number of digestive enzymes that the pancreas produces for the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates.
Alcohol and the brain
The described central part of the nervous system is the most efficient oxygen consumer. Excessive alcohol consumption interferes with access to O2to gray matter nerve cells due to poisoning.
The result is dementia, resulting in massive neuronal death. Intense consumption of the intoxicated drink affects the cells of the cerebral cortex, resulting in brain depletion.
The effect of alcohol on the pancreas
This organ does not contain enzymes that break down alcohol, so harmful drinks affect the pancreas directly. Here protein plugs are formed, which retain calcium, which is expressed by the formation of stones and leads to pancreatitis.
Molecules of the alcoholic environment contribute to the damage to the gland cells. Preceding alcoholic chronic disease, an increasing number of proteins in food juice. The latter clog the small excretory channels of the organ, promoting the proliferation of connective tissue with scars - fibrosis.
Kidney and alcohol
A drinking person has a disturbed excretory process of the kidneys, which regulates their activity. The adrenal system is constantly malfunctioning, the protective tissue of the hollow organ, lining its inner shell, is disrupted.
Dysbacteriosis as a result of alcohol intake
The presence of the described pathology completely prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages. The latter and carbonated, lead to inflammatory processes on the intestinal surface. It is also not recommended to consume intoxicated drinks in the treatment of dysbiosis, which is due to the lack of therapy results.
Alcohol accelerates the passage of biological barriers, which explains the passage of toxins from the intestines, digested proteins that are real allergens.
Additional properties of less harmful alcoholic beverages
Various food additives present in the intoxicating drink aggravate the effect of alcohol. To make alcohol less harmful to the liver and other internal organs, they should be consumed with natural ingredients, not synthetic ones.
Sugar
The sweet substance is found in many alcoholic products - liquor, sparkling wines, heady cocktails. The products are characterized by high calorie content, which increases the load on the human body.
Harmful viscous alcohol is not recommended for people who have:
- overweight;
- removed gallbladder;
- pathology of the pancreas.
People who have liver disease, hepatitis should not drink like this.
Pressure increase
The effects of wine drinks are not yet fully understood. It contains organic substances, amino acids, various tannins. Red wine increases the nitrogen content, causing vasodilation and increased blood flow. Therefore, after using it, the pressure decreases.
However, the alcoholic effect lasts quickly, the heart muscle begins to increase contractions, ejecting new portions of blood, leading to an increase in pressure.
Usage Rules
A person has the right to calculate the highest daily alcohol dose that will not have a strong negative effect on the body. The formula looks like this:
20: 0. 966: per degree of beverage × 100.
Based on the calculations, you can give the permissible volume of alcohol consumed in ml:
- vodka - 51;
- fortified wine - 103;
- dry, normal - 172;
- beer - 415.
If a person does not want to stop his addictions, he can drink 20 grams daily. pure alcohol, which has no pronounced effect on the liver. However, it is recommended to adhere to the following rule - you should not drink alcohol more than twice a week.
The only exception is real dry red wines. A man can drink 50 g of the drink daily, a woman - 30.
Alcohol Assessment
The harmful effects of alcohol have been known to mankind for hundreds of years. Once in the body, ethanol decomposes it. The strength of the poisoning depends on both the amount of the intoxicated and its type. Below are the most harmful alcoholic drinks in the ranking.
Vodka
The familiar male drink is at the last step. There are no dyes, flavors, or other harmful additives here. Vodka can be called the best dietary alcoholic product. But this does not mean drinking without measure or mixing with cocktails.
However, vodka has disadvantages:
- frequent poisoning;
- increased use;
- trade enterprises often sell a surrogate, a fake.
Hangover is rated three out of 10.
Wine
The described drink can be attributed to a medicinal product.
The benefits of red wine include:
- prevents the formation of blood clots, all kinds of inflammation;
- reduces the concentration of harmful cholesterol;
- resveratrol- natural phytoalexin, antioxidant resists aging of the body.
Minuses are the presence of harmful methanol. Excessive use leads to severe hangovers.
White wine is less useful, but lowers cholesterol concentration due to chemical compounds. The grape liquid medium is saturated with harmful sulfites, which are added by the manufacturer of the product, which causes severe toxic symptoms that occur after 3 glasses of alcohol. It provokes allergic reactions, asthma, migraines, and dental diseases.
Alcoholic signs of poisoning are rated 6 points.
Liquor
These products are medium and strong. The large presence of sugar leads to the fact that it is used in the preparation of cocktails.
Typically denotes the following types:
- Fortified - up to 45% alcohol, 50% sugar.
- Dessert - 30-30%, respectively.
- Creams - 15-23-60%.
The advantages of this type of hop are the sweetness, the content of useful ingredients from herbs, plant roots, flowers.
The downside is the high sugar level, high calorie content, sometimes causing allergies, an unpleasant sensation in the stomach.
Cognac
The intoxicated drink contains a minimum amount of harmful food additives, has a vasodilating effect, and leads to the death of some pathogenic microbes. The daily intake should not exceed 50 ml, women - 30.
Pros:
- elimination of gastric spasms;
- no additives;
- stimulation of appetite;
- blood pressure normalization;
- humility of headaches.
The disadvantages are inherent in a large number of restrictions - hypertension, addiction, diabetes, high calorie content. Increased use leads to acute vascular insufficiency.
Alcohol syndrome - 8 units.
Beer
Alcohol is made from barley using additives (hops, yeast).
Positive indicator - low content of harmful ethanol 3-8 °, as well as the following factors:
- prevents the development of coronary heart disease;
- silicon restores bones;
- removes salts of aluminum, other metals, carcinogenic substances;
- helps hair growth;
- low calorie content;
- thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic, nicotinic acid.
A mug of alcoholic beer contains a quarter of the daily value of B vitamins.
Negative Factors:
- increase in uric acid leads to the development of gout;
- inhibits digestion due to easy absorption;
- cobalt causes inflammation of the esophagus, stomach.
Frequent use of this type of alcoholic beverage provokes obesity and heart disease.
Sparkling wines
Champagne is ranked next. The antioxidants present restore nerve fibers, the chemical composition has a bactericidal effect, promotes blood circulation, reduces harmful cholesterol, and dilates blood vessels.
However, rapid intoxication occurs, due to the presence of bubbles of carbon dioxide, contributes to the occurrence of liver pathologies, slows down digestion.
Alcohol Hangover - 7.
Whiskey
There is a medical opinion that the product slows down the development of malignant tumors. However, excessive use leads to mental disorders, rage, delirium tremens.
The totality of alcohol symptoms - 8 units.
Brandy
Continues the list with brandy. The intoxicating environment of the drink contains a large number of antioxidants that slow down aging, ascorbic acid. Due to numerous impurities, the most severe alcohol poisoning is observed - 9.
Alcoholic cocktails
The presence of alcohol, gas, sugar creates a mixture hazardous to health. The latter provokes rapid intoxication, saturates the blood, as a result of which there is a dynamic absorption of glucose.
Energy
The most harmful alcohol is energy drinks containing C₂H₅OH. A strong alcoholic liquid together with them brings tangible damage to the internal organs. Aggression, suicidal tendencies increase, loss of consciousness is observed.
It is recommended to choose alcoholic beverages in which the alcohol content is less harmful to health. These are red and white natural wines.