Chapter 7 - Alcohol

beer: 5-6% wine: 8-14% liquor: 35-45%

How much alcohol is in beer, wine, and liquor?

French paradox

A phenomenon observed in the French, who have a lower incidence of heart disease than people whose diets contain comparable amounts of fat. Part of the difference has been attributed to the regular and moderate drinking of red wine.

fetal alcohol syndrome

A set of physical and mental abnormalities observed in infants born to women who abuse alcohol during pregnancy. Affected infants exhibit poor growth, characteristic abnormal facial features, limited hand-eye coordination, and mental retardation.

acetaldehyde

A toxic intermediate compound formed by the action of the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme during the metabolism of alcohol.

fatty liver

Accumulation of fat in the liver, a sign of increased fatty acid synthesis.

all

Alcohol affects ___ organs in the body, but the most obvious effects are in the brain and the nervous system, the GI system, and the liver.

7

Alcohol provides __ kilocalories per gram but no essential function for the body; therefore, alcohol is not a nutrient.

digestion

Alcohol requires no ___ and is absorbed easily all along the gastrointestinal tract.

alcohol poisoning

An overdose of alcohol. The body is overwhelmed by the amount of alcohol in the system and cannot break it down fast enough.

congeners

Biologically active compounds in alcoholic beverages that include nonalcoholic ingredients as well as other alcohols such as methanol. ___ contribute to the distinctive taste and smell of the beverage and can increase intoxicating effects and subsequent hangover.

ethanol

Chemical name for drinking alcohol. Also known as ethyl alcohol.

alcohol

Common name for ethanol or ethyl alcohol. As a general term, it refers to any organic compound with one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups.

wood alcohol

Common name for methanol.

binge drinking

Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in short periods of time.

enzymes

Different rates of alcohol breakdown can be attributed to different levels of the alcohol-related ___; these differences are caused by genetic and gender variations.

moderate to no

Health organizations recommend ___ to __ alcohol consumption.

preventable

Fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the most devastating consequences of alcohol consumption, and it is ___.

esophagitis

Inflammation of the esophagus.

gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach.

1. ethnicity 2. age 3. body size and composition 4. enzyme activity 5. hormonal fluctuations 6. male/female

List some factors that affect our ability to process alcohol.

P: 1. a drink a day may lower risk of mental decline 2. raise protective HDL cholesterol levels 3. inhibit formation of blood clots 4. stress relief and relaxation 5. can offer protection against heart disease N: 1. addiciton 2. accidents/violence 3. birth defects 4. emotional/social 5. cardiomyopathy 6. liver disease 7. pancreatitis 8. anemia 9. gastritis 10. cancer

List the positive and the negative effects of alcohol.

Eating before or with a drink slows down the rush of alcohol into the bloodstream in several ways. Food, especially if it contains fat, delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine. The delay also provides a longer opportunity for oxidizing stomach enzymes to work. And food dilutes the stomach contents, lowering the concentration of alcohol and its rate of absorption.

List the ways food helps to delay or avoid inebriation.

heart disease

Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to reduced risk of ___ ___.

standard drink

One serving of alcohol (about 15 grams), defined as 12 ounces of beer, 4 to 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

fermentation

The anaerobic conversion of various carbohydrates to carbon dioxide and an alcohol or organic acid.

hangover

The collection of symptoms experienced by someone who has consumed a large quantity of alcohol. Symptoms can include pounding headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, heightened sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, and possibly depression, anxiety, and irritability.

lipoprotein levels

The potential benefits of moderate alcohol consumption might be related to effects on ___ ___ and the antioxidant components of beverages such as wine.

methanol

The simplest alcohol. Also known as methyl alcohol and wood alcohol.

Alcohol causes dehydration, which leads to headache and dry mouth. Alcohol directly irritates the stomach and intestines, contributing to stomach pain and vomiting. The sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea that can accompany a hangover cause additional fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance. Alcohol diverts liver activity away from glucose production, which can lead to low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), causing light-headedness and lack of energy. Alcohol also disrupts sleep patterns, interfering with the dream state and contributing to fatigue. The symptoms of a hangover are largely caused by inflammation. Time works best, however. Hangover symptoms usually disappear in 8 to 24 hours. No matter what you do to help get over your hangover, your body still has to clean up all the toxic by-products left over from the alcohol.22 Eating bland foods that contain complex carbohydrates, such as toast or crackers, can combat low blood glucose and possibly nausea. Sleep can ease fatigue, and drinking nonalcoholic beverages can alleviate dehydration. Limited research suggests that taking vitamin B6 or an extract from Opuntia ficus indica (a type of prickly pear cactus) before drinking can reduce the severity of hangover symptoms.

What causes a hangover? Is there any way to relieve one?

Liver cells detoxify alcohol and use the products to synthesize fatty acids, which are assembled into fats.

Where does alcohol breakdown take place?

A safe level during pregnancy is not known; therefore, pregnant women should abstain from alcohol consumption. Unlike most other alcohol-related diseases, fetal alcohol damage does not require chronic intake. A binge—even having several drinks at a party—at the wrong moment of pregnancy can cause serious problems.

Why do health care professionals advise pregnant women not to drink alcohol?

malnutrition

___ among alcoholics is common as a result of poor food choices and alcohol's interference with the absorption, breakdown, and excretion of nutrients.

fatty

___ liver is apparent even after one night of binge drinking.