Alcohol

Alcohol and ladies

Alcohol increases estrogen levels in both men and women. Alcohol consumption- particularly heavy and binge increase your risk for BREAST CANCER.

Nutrient deficiency

Nutrients particularly affected by ETOH use and abuse: B vitamins, vitamin D, Vitamin A, magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, folate, etc.

Where is the rest of the alcohol absorbed?

The small intestine

What are the kidneys responsible for?

Waste removal

What is the healthiest form of alcohol?

Wine, because it is made of fruits which contain phytochemicals

Moderation

2 drinks per day for men, 1 drink per day for women. That which probably won't affect long term health.

What is alcohol?

A depressant. The body recognizes it as a toxin/poison, 7 kcals per gram!

Organs of alcohol removal:

Absorption (20%) begins in the stomach. The rate varies by sex, weight, ethnicity. The rest is absorbed in the small intestine. The liver is the primary organ for processing ETOH in to waste. The kidneys are responsible for waste removal.

Why is alcohol toxic?

Alcohol acts as lipid solvents. Alcohol can dissolve lipids out of cell membranes, allowing them to penetrate cells. This destroys cell structure and kills the cell. 20% is absorbed in the stomach wall

Alcohol metabolism

Alcohol again, is recognized by your body as a toxin. It receives preferential treatment to rid your body of the toxin. All other metabolism (CHO, fat, protein, absorption of vitamins and minerals) are effected. They are either not metabolized or metabolized inefficiently.

Brain tissue damage

Alcohol causes the brain tissue to shrink, long term use can affect memory, vision, learning capacity, etc. Dehydration also affects brain cells, causing pain.

Dehydration

Alcohol depresses the brain's production of the antidiuretic hormone. This increases urine output. This also affects the minerals responsible for maintaining cellular fluid balance.

Why do you have to pee when you're drunk?

Alcohol depresses the hormone responsible for water balance. You urinate more than you take in Fluid imbalance and severe dehydration result

Why do you vomit?

Alcohol is a poison. You vomit to get rid of the poison.

Stomach

Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach to the blood stream. Alcohol is also "broken down" by an enzyme in the stomach- alcohol dehydrogenase. The amount of alcohol dehydrogenase available depends on sex and ethnicity.

Small Intestine

Alcohol is absorbed to the blood stream and sent to the liver for processing. Tissue lining of the total GI tract is effected by the presence of ETOH- directly changing/damaging cell structure.

What category is alcohol?

Alcohol is actually a depressant. It "depresses" specific brain activities.

Alcohol production

Alcohol is produced by anaerobic (without oxygen) fermentation of carbohydrates. The type of carbohydrate determines the type of alcohol-containing beverage produced. Such as: grain=whiskey, potatoes=vodka, fruits=wine, and hops/barley=beer.

Hangover

Basic drug withdrawal Headache- the brain's shrunken dehydrated cells rehydrate, which causes swelling and pain. Other components in drinks (congeners) also leave a toxic effect. Fluid imbalance, tissue damage also can cause nausea.

Alcohol as disinfects:

Because of alcohol's ability to destroy cell structure, it is used as a disinfectant to destroy cell structure within bacteria and viruses. Ethanol is less toxic than other alcohols, but still has disinfectant properties.

Why do you get diarrhea the next day?

Cell destruction. Alcohol destroys all cells it contacts. The GI tract takes at least 24hrs to repair. It generally cannot function well and releases what it cannot "deal" with. Fluid imbalance also plays a role.

What does the liver do?

It's the primary organ for detoxification. Alcohol is broken down for fuel- glucose/fatty acids. 1/2 ounce of ethanol per hour on average can be metabolized. This is dependent on the amount of alcohol dehydrogenase available. The rest circulates in the blood stream awaiting metabolism. This affects the brain.

Long-term use

Moderate to severe malnutrition. Liver impairment ("Fatty liver") Liver damage (Fibroid tissue) Kidney impairment

Other risks

Nutrient deficiencies. Drug overdose- the liver of ETOH users and abusers is at a greater risk for damage from drugs (tylenol). Because of ETOH preferential treatment and possible liver damage, drug detoxification is slowed. Hence, normal doses of medicines can become toxic.

Alcohol and the brain

The amount of alcohol and duration of use determine its effect on the brain. Alcohol first sedates the area responsible for judgement and reasoning, hence, making the user excitable and "giddy".

The absorption of alcohol begins in the...

stomach, the rate varies by sex, weight and ethnicity. Water dilutes alcohol, more surface area.