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Ms. Sonia Gandhi,
Senior clinical nutritionist
Fortis Hospital, Mohali |
Alcohol is usually prepared by the fermentation of carbohydrates like molasses, rice, jaggery, malt and hops.
Whiskey-it is made from barley by distilling it.
Beer- it is made from grains such as barley and hops.
Brandy, sherry and port are made from grapes.
Alcohol produces energy that spares breakdown of carbohydrates and fat. However the energy produced is not stored in the body.
1 gram of alcohol a 7 kcals (29.5 kj)
Alcohol is pure carbohydrate and quickest source of energy; it does not need digestion and is absorbed from the stomach. Calories consumed are appreciable and are not stored in the body. Therefore, alcohol produces less weight gain than food.
Alcohol has poor nutritive value, contains no essential food factors, so excessive consumption leads to nutritional deficiencies. Alcohol can spare protein breakdown when taken in small amounts. Alcohol also has a fat sparing effect; habitual consumption in excess of energy needs produces fat gain.
Alcohol is a CNS depressant. Calories obtained from alcohol are considered empty because they do not contain any beneficial nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
The small molecular size of alcohol readily permeates through the mucous membrane by simple diffusion. Stomach absorption varies with the concentration and emptying time. It is rapid on an empty stomach while the presence of food particularly fatty foods delays the gastric emptying and allows greater absorption.
6% alcohol is absorbed at the rate of 4.7 ml/minute
Aspirin inhibits the breakdown of alcohol by stomach; the alcohol dehydrogenises and thus increases its absorption into the blood stream.
Absorption in small intestine is rapid. After partial gastrectomy (surgical removal of a part of the stomach) a patient feels tipsy after a small quantity of alcohol therefore it leads to rapid rise in the blood level.
Breakdown of alcohol:
Body's ability to breakdown alcohol depends on your weight, recent food intake, physical condition, and gender. A large person can usually tolerate more alcohol, thereby minimizing its effects. Men generally tolerate more alcohol than women.
The gender and the genetic difference determining alcohol tolerance are related to a person's ability to produce the enzyme that helps to digest alcohol. If you produce more of this enzyme, less of what you drink reaches the blood stream in the form of alcohol, and more arrives already broken down. Person therefore more of this enzyme can tolerate more alcohol without the effects on the CNS.
Liver detoxifies (metabolizes) alcohol, continued, excessive use of alcohol can damage the liver in various ways including the development of fatty liver. Fatty liver can progress to cirrhosis of the liver, a potentially fatal condition.
The presence of alcohol impairs the absorption of essential nutrients because it can damage the lining of the small intestine and the stomach where most nutrients are digested. Alcohol also requires some vitamins in its metabolism, and it interferes with the absorption of some specific vitamins.
How wine works:
The effects are 3 fold:
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Antioxidant
Vasodilating Anti thrombotic
Among the many phenolic compounds of wine, to deserve special mention are: Resveratrol and Quercitin
The highest conc. of resveratrol and other phenolic compounds are found in red wines.
The vaso dilator and the anti thrombotic effects of wines are related to quercitin and other potent nitric oxide donor's explaining endotelium dependent vasodilator actions. Daily consumption of half bottle of red wine occasionally with food has no harmful effects than to add 250 cals to your diet.
Other common drinks cause cardio myopathy, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, liver cirrhosis, dementia, and polyneurities.
Vitamin B complex deficiency:
Vitamin B complex is required for the utilization of by the tissues. An alcoholic develops vitamin B-complex deficiency because:
1. The increased carbohydrate calories supplied by alcohol increase vitamin B- complex requirement.
2. Intake of foods and vitamins is decreased because of alcoholic gastritis and resulting in anorexia.
3. Thiamine absorption is diminished.
Significantly low levels of b-complex manifest as polyneuropathy and the wernicke's korasak off syndrome
Hypoglycemia
Ingestion of alcohol is followed by a reduction of the amount of liver glycogen. Alcohol inhibits glucose formation from lactate and decrease the ability of the liver to form glucose from amino acids. Alcohol is most likely to damage the liver of those consuming large quantities with out eating adequate food. Those fasting for 2-3 days hypoglycemia and coma may occur 6-8 hours after excessive alcohol consumption.
Diabetics taking hypoglycemic drugs must be warned as effect of insulin is prolonged when alcohol is in the blood and may cause hypoglycemia.
At the same time alcohol is a leading cause of traffic accidents in the United States because it slows reaction time and impairs your judgment.
Alcohol is a risk factor for development of cancer of esophagus, throat, larynx and the mouth.
Alcohol can impair sexual function though increases your interest in sexual activity.
Alcohol intake during pregnancy has been identified as the cause of fetal alcohol syndrome.
The side affects over power the few useful roles of alcohol. For this complete analysis and study of pros and cons of alcohol consumption is required. Nothing is better than to be non-alcoholic drinker. In case you have to take, be sensible and moderate drinker.
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