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Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol is a source of energy but contains no other nutrients. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from your stomach and slowly broken down by the liver. This process is referred to as metabolization. The rate at which this occurs determines how quickly you become intoxicated.

alcohol metabolism

The rate of alcohol metabolism varies from one person to another and depends on their size and weight. Generally, smaller people metabolize alcohol more slowly than large people and women more slowly than men. This means there are differences in the alcohol metabolism for man and woman. Drinking alcohol with food will slow down the rate at which the alcohol is absorbed from your stomach, meaning that it will have a less intoxicating effect. The effect of alcohol on your metabolism is also that it slows it down. The more you drink the slower metabolize the alcohol. A vicious circle.

alcohol and health effects

The maximum recommended intake of alcohol is three units a day for men and two units a day for women. A unit provides about eight grams of alcohol and is equivalent to one small glass of wine, half a pint of beer or one pub measure of spirits. Drinking more than the recommended amount increases the social and physical hazards.

health effects of alcohol

Alcohol and health, that does not sound right, right? But recent studies have shown a relationship between moderate intakes of alcohol and a decrease in the rate of coronary heart disease. The mechanism for this is unclear, although it is thought that alcohol probably has a beneficial effect on certain types of fat in the bloodstream that help to stop the arteries becoming clogged. This means it possible that there are alcohol and health effects which are positive.