Alcohol...Should I or Should I Not? Getting the Facts.
Alcohol is produced regularly, in small quantities, in our body, through fermentation by micro-organisms in our intestines. It is an alternative source of energy but it lacks vitamins and trace metals(micro-nutrients), found in whole foods. It gives energy but unlike glucose which is stored as glycogen in the liver, there are no such stores for alcohol, that can be called upon, when needed, on quick demand. That is why people talk of 'clearance', which is, in a way, the need to continuously drink to have constant energy supply.
It damages the liver and kidney where it is broken down to a more potent toxin, acetaldehyde, which produces reactive oxygen whose effects can be counteracted with vitamin C. Exercise promotes elimination of alcohol through the lungs and sweat. It also promotes alcohol breakdown and detoxification by stimulating metabolism. Food, especially high fiber food like beans, also slows absorption of alcohol, reducing its toxic effects. Eating high fiber foods speeds up metabolism as the body tries to break down the difficult-to-digest fiber, thereby using much of calories. Eating pepper (capsaicin), speeds up metabolism and helps detoxify alcohol. Omega-3 found in fish also promotes alcohol metabolism. Good health is necessary for good alcohol breakdown.
So it pays to eat these substances and take fruits, rich in vitamin C, alongside alcohol consumption. These will prevent hangover and mitigate the toxic effects of alcohol.
Due to the fast breakdown of alcohol, because it is rapidly absorbed and has high calorific value, alcohol prevents glucose from being broken down to provide energy as alcohol takes over as the primary source of energy supply. It does this by inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase that handles glucose breakdown. New glucose stops being generated from glycogen and proteins. This explains why alcohol causes low blood sugar(hypoglycemia) which can lead to death and this justifies why food should be eaten, alongsie alcohol intake, to keep up blood glucose levels, which support the brain. Fats stop being generated from stores and from being passed into the Krebs cycle, as alcohol takes over as the primary feeder of this cycle. Instead new fats are built up from the breakdown products of alcohol and stored.
So, alcohol drinkers who additionally eat a lot, are obese. This will cause heart problems because of the increase in fats in blood vessels..
Alcohol blocks aspartate receptors in the brain, which are required for making nerve connections, necessary for learning, memory and reasoning. In so doing it reduces brain useful activity but by preserving those amines, which normally are used in these brain cognitive activity(memory and thinking), the amines will now be used to block our natural or learned inhibitions, instead. As such imbibers(drinkers) open up, become loquacious(talkative), arrogant, excited; which can be described as unleashing the animal instincts in us.
The pleasure center is stimulated and the need to reward oneself of long-suppressed desires is heightened. One's 'true self' comes out and secrets pour out of the mouth, lies become entertained, false hopes are built and spending becomes superfluous. Prolonged alcohol use leads to addiction because of the constant stimulation of the pleasure center. However in high concentration, alcohol has an anesthetizing effect since the conscious self, mediated by the aspartate receptors, becomes completely shut down. This will then cause coma and possibly death.
In small amounts, alcohol dilates blood vessels and this is good for cardiovascular health. Cognition and blood pressure improve. It increases metabolism. Mild depression is alleviated. It increases elimination of toxins from the body, through increased metabolism(detoxification) and vasodilation, which increases blood flow to the kidney that aids excretion. Alcohol equally improves blood sugar control in diabetics.
More accidents are caused by alcohol intake than by the use of any other drug. It greatly increases reaction time, impairs vision, worsens motor coordination and judgment, through its effects in the brain. Hallucinations and delusions may become apparent. In fact, it produces a psychotic state, as one loses touch with reality.
The recommended daily limit in the US is two drinks for men and one drink for women. Studies may show that those who drink mildly tend to fare better in longevity than non-drinkers but the problem is that, for many, crossing the line is very easy. Most heavy drinkers started off as mild drinkers, developed tolerance, drank more, became addicted and suffered from liver cirrhosis or kidney failures. These effects are made worse by detected or undetected, underlying liver and kidney problems.
Dr Oliver Verbe Birnso, MD
It damages the liver and kidney where it is broken down to a more potent toxin, acetaldehyde, which produces reactive oxygen whose effects can be counteracted with vitamin C. Exercise promotes elimination of alcohol through the lungs and sweat. It also promotes alcohol breakdown and detoxification by stimulating metabolism. Food, especially high fiber food like beans, also slows absorption of alcohol, reducing its toxic effects. Eating high fiber foods speeds up metabolism as the body tries to break down the difficult-to-digest fiber, thereby using much of calories. Eating pepper (capsaicin), speeds up metabolism and helps detoxify alcohol. Omega-3 found in fish also promotes alcohol metabolism. Good health is necessary for good alcohol breakdown.
So it pays to eat these substances and take fruits, rich in vitamin C, alongside alcohol consumption. These will prevent hangover and mitigate the toxic effects of alcohol.
Due to the fast breakdown of alcohol, because it is rapidly absorbed and has high calorific value, alcohol prevents glucose from being broken down to provide energy as alcohol takes over as the primary source of energy supply. It does this by inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase that handles glucose breakdown. New glucose stops being generated from glycogen and proteins. This explains why alcohol causes low blood sugar(hypoglycemia) which can lead to death and this justifies why food should be eaten, alongsie alcohol intake, to keep up blood glucose levels, which support the brain. Fats stop being generated from stores and from being passed into the Krebs cycle, as alcohol takes over as the primary feeder of this cycle. Instead new fats are built up from the breakdown products of alcohol and stored.
So, alcohol drinkers who additionally eat a lot, are obese. This will cause heart problems because of the increase in fats in blood vessels..
Alcohol blocks aspartate receptors in the brain, which are required for making nerve connections, necessary for learning, memory and reasoning. In so doing it reduces brain useful activity but by preserving those amines, which normally are used in these brain cognitive activity(memory and thinking), the amines will now be used to block our natural or learned inhibitions, instead. As such imbibers(drinkers) open up, become loquacious(talkative), arrogant, excited; which can be described as unleashing the animal instincts in us.
The pleasure center is stimulated and the need to reward oneself of long-suppressed desires is heightened. One's 'true self' comes out and secrets pour out of the mouth, lies become entertained, false hopes are built and spending becomes superfluous. Prolonged alcohol use leads to addiction because of the constant stimulation of the pleasure center. However in high concentration, alcohol has an anesthetizing effect since the conscious self, mediated by the aspartate receptors, becomes completely shut down. This will then cause coma and possibly death.
In small amounts, alcohol dilates blood vessels and this is good for cardiovascular health. Cognition and blood pressure improve. It increases metabolism. Mild depression is alleviated. It increases elimination of toxins from the body, through increased metabolism(detoxification) and vasodilation, which increases blood flow to the kidney that aids excretion. Alcohol equally improves blood sugar control in diabetics.
More accidents are caused by alcohol intake than by the use of any other drug. It greatly increases reaction time, impairs vision, worsens motor coordination and judgment, through its effects in the brain. Hallucinations and delusions may become apparent. In fact, it produces a psychotic state, as one loses touch with reality.
The recommended daily limit in the US is two drinks for men and one drink for women. Studies may show that those who drink mildly tend to fare better in longevity than non-drinkers but the problem is that, for many, crossing the line is very easy. Most heavy drinkers started off as mild drinkers, developed tolerance, drank more, became addicted and suffered from liver cirrhosis or kidney failures. These effects are made worse by detected or undetected, underlying liver and kidney problems.
Dr Oliver Verbe Birnso, MD
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