The history of over 10,000 years or even more suggests that humans have been drinking alcohol or what you call fermented beverages since long. And the history also suggests that there have been people who have enjoyed the drinking it all their life and still it did not affect their health.
And then there have been people who lost their lives just because of addiction to alcohol. So, why is it that it affects some whereas it kills others? The answer is an excess of consumption. And hence to save yourself from the damage you need to know the exact healthy level of alcohol consumption.
Is Alcohol Tonic or Poison?
Even today people argue whether alcohol is a tonic or poison. Of course, these fermented beverages have a notorious track of destroying lives.
But then, it also helps those who consume it in moderation. Rather health experts are of the opinion that regular drinking is not at all bad as long as you keep it within the limit.
Heavy drinking increases the risk of developing several types of cancers The problem arises when you exceed the moderate limit as mentioned by several health organizations.
Apart from destroying your organs, almost half the fatal accidents around the world occur due to drinking and driving.
Heavy drinking damages not only liver and heart but if pregnant women drink alcohol regularly it can also harm the unborn child. Heavy drinking also increases the risk of developing several types of cancers including breast cancer.
Depressions, fights, and crimes due to violence and instability are some of the mental problems caused due to excessive alcohol consumption. So, when consumed in excess, alcohol is poison.But when consumed in moderation, alcohol is a tonic.
{ Also Read: Amazing Health Benefits of Red Wine }
Health Advantages of Drinking Alcohol
That may sound somewhat surprising, but yes there are certain advantages of alcohol and hence many doctors even suggest that it should be consumed as a tonic.
Moderate Alcohol Drinking Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Over 100 prospective studies conducted by the various health organizations suggest that there is an inverse relationship between risk of heart attack and moderate drinking. Moderate drinking also reduces the risk of ischemic (clot-caused) stroke, sudden cardiac death, peripheral vascular disease and all the cardiovascular causes leading to death by 25 to 40 percent.
The connection between moderate drinking and lowering risk of cardiovascular disease has been cited both by women and men. Of course, it does not hold true for those who are already having heart disease or are at the risk of suffering from heart attack, stroke or dying of cardiovascular disease. The benefits also do not extend to those suffering from high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and existing cardiovascular disease.
Why is Moderate Drinking Beneficial?
Researchers suggest that drinking alcohol in moderate amounts help to increase the high-density lipoprotein or HDL/good cholesterol. HDL is known to provide greater protection to the heart and can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Moderate drinking also provides better sensitivity to improving several factors such as blood clotting that prevent blockages in arteries of neck, brain, and heart. So, if you maintain a healthy level of alcohol consumption you have nothing to worry.
What is the Healthy Level of Alcohol Consumption?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture moderate drinking levels for men and women are:
- 1 drink/day for women
- 2 drinks/day for men
Drinking beyond this limit daily comes under binge drinking. According to NIAAA, binge drinking is a pattern of consuming alcohol due to which the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels in the body rise to more than 0.08/dL.
This level occurs after women consume more than 4 glasses and men consume more than 5 glasses of alcohol in the span of two hours. And if any woman or man drink alcohol up to this limit at least once in every month, it can be said to be binge drinking which is quite unhealthy.
Pattern of Alcohol Consumption Matters a Lot
Apart from how much you drink alcohol, your drinking pattern also matters a lot. If you drink seven to eight drinks on Saturday and do not drink a drop the whole week does not mean that alcohol may not affect your body.
Although the weekly total of drinking one glass alcohol a day comes to seven drinks a week, drinking your entire weekly quota in a day is not good for health.It indicates regular but moderate consumption is the key to maintaining good health.
This beverage can serve as a tonic or health benefits only if you maintain the healthy level of alcohol consumption. So instead of banning alcohol completely from your life, you can always enjoy few sips in the evening. But just as with sugar and fried foods, excess consumption can affect your health badly.
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