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Drinking (pg. 3)
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| Orbax |
Alcohol. This substance was created before paper and steel. It is one of the earliest known manufactured goods of Man. It's history is interwoven with the world's history. As man has progressed through his life he has taken alcohol with him, and all of the rich traditions surrounding it. Alcohol is easily four thousand years old, with acts of prohibition as early as 2300 B.C. (Swartz, 2001).Its main purpose thoughout the centuries revolved around religous ceremonies. An excellent example are the Bacchus/Dionysus cults of the Greeks and Romans which were characterized by wild, uncontrolled drinking. Eventually it moved away from religious purposes to where it is now today; the "hey its (put an excuse here) lets drink" mentality. As Cultures around the world have progressed they have come to associate good times and more importantly good health (Salud, skoal, a votre sante', prost, l'chayim (Hanson, 1997), with alcohol. The question has become, in these days of the binge drinkers and alcoholics, is alcohol good for you? There is a controversy today going back and forth as to whether or not the nutrients and benefits of alcohol are necessary in the alcoholic form. There have been numerous studies that have gone in depth into this eminently important question and the results have been impressive. Evidence strongly supports that while all of the nutrients and vitamins that are found in alcohol can be taken in by different food and drink, alcohol has unique properties that make it a healthy poison. Alcohol seems to provide benefits to social and physical health when taken in the correct quantities and creating problems in the very same things in the incorrect amounts (too much, and surprisingly, too little).
First, to define what "moderate drinking" is. It has a broad definition of "drinking that does not generally cause problems, either for the drinker or for society" (NIAAA, 1992); yet this is sometimes difficult for individuals who have not tested limits or have high tolerance levels to judge. The more quantitative definition is 1-2 bottles of beer for women per day and 2-4 bottles for men per day with 2-3 days of abstinence in the week somewhere. One thing that should be noted is that a drink is a drink is a drink. What this means is that a beer is the same as a shot of "hard" alcohol is the same as a glass of wine; some people think that by drinking a different liquid the alcohol will affect them less. In Carroll's definition of drunkeness, the blood alcohol content is the only factor in determining whether or not someone is "drunk" (as cited by Hanson, 1997) so the smaller amounts of "hard" alcohol are just as potent as an entire bottle of beer.The problem with defining moderate drinking is because alcohol is a neurochemical, and it reacts differently to the brain and physiology of each person. The number of drinks is stated as a general guideline to healthful drinking, but a doctor should definitely be consulted while testing what an appropriate amount is.
How does alcohol affect the body? First of all, alcohol has been labeled as a sedative-hypnotic, which means that it activates the para sympathetic nervous system and tends to cause sleepiness and listlessness at the heavy intoxication levels. At lower levels of intoxication alcohol is excitatory and has been linked to domestic violence (Decker, 1999). Alcohol tends to "lift the spirits" and, again, because of the fact that it is a neurochemical, alcohol tends to excite those attributes that a person tends towards. For example: A man who is generally happy and rambunctious will become even happier and more rambunctious as he consumes alcohol thus making him even more active than usual. A person who tends towards laziness and indolence will become even more passive with the effects of alcohol. It affects people across all strata of culture, age, and gender differently depending on how that person has wired their brain over the years. For a more technical perspective on what is happening... "A recent theory, supported by several researchers, pins alcohol's effect on voltage ion channels that control neuronal activity. Two distinct ligand-gated channels have been identified, inhibitory ones (GABA receptors and strychnine-sensitive Glycine receptors and excitatory ones (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA glutamate-activated channels and the 5HT3 subtype of seratonin receptors) The inhibitory aspect occurs due to a hyperpolarization of neurons, secondary to an influx of chloride ions. The neuron becomes less likely to achieve the threshold membrane potential. The excitatory receptor is dependent on the NMDA and non NMDA glutamate receptors that control the influx of sodium and calcium, which bind to endogenous neurotransmitters (glutamate or aspartate) and depolarize the neuronal membrane. The NMDA receptor seems to have a high permiability to calcium, which acts as a catalyst to several intracellular events." (Decker, 1999). So what does it all mean? It means that alcohol raises the bar, so to speak, for cellular firing. Normally a cell sits at around negative 40 milivolts and and it has to reach a more positive number to reach threshold and fire. Alcohol sets the cell, through an imbalance in the sodium and chloride levels intra- and extracellularly, to a much more negative level; thus raising the required level of positve charge for the cell to fire. This is part of the reason why heart rate slows down, breathing slows down, and other vital systems. Alcohol is one of the many drugs that affect the "old brain" that has all vital systems. This is why alcohol poisoning can be deadly because it lowers blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, body temperature, digestive systems, and several other things including destroying your brain cells and liver in a process called cirrohsis. The above mentioned diseases are only caused by excess drinking though. None of these effects are caused moderate drinking. It is a myth that any amount of alcohol dissolves your brain slowly. When low levels of alcohol are present in the body it acts as a vasodilator (it causes blood vessels to relax and widen (Decker, 1999), thus increasing flow of blood to areas such as the brain, thus increasing function. |
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| Orbax |
One of the more interesting facts about alcohol is that most alcoholics do not die from alcohol overdose, cirrhosis, or any other of the numerous diseases that have been linked with heavy drinking. The majority of alcoholics die from lung cancer. Why is this? Becuase when you are addicted to one substance your chances of being addicted to another double. Out of 197 deaths in an addiction clinic, 43% of the deaths were from smoking related causes and only 28% from alcohol related causes (Leutwyler, 1999). People who smoke usually drink, and drink a lot more, but not vice versa. Out of the two, the smoking does the most harm by far. The human body is made to process poisons through its liver and kidneys to some degree. However, the human lung was never intended to process smoke. The idea that all alcoholics die from alcohol related dysfunctions is false; most alcoholics are heavy smokers also.
There are many myths regarding alcohol in American society today, most of them have been spread by the media, teachers, and parents. The main problem with the warnings is that while they are true in one sense, they are incorrect by omission. One statement that is made frequently is that alcohol destroys brain cells. Now, this is true; but only if alcohol is taken to excess. In fact, according to many studies, alcohol has been linked to an increase in cognitive function when taken in moderate amounts (as cited by Hanson, 1997). It is understandable that these facts are told about the dangers of excess drinking, but the flipside of potential benefits should not be ignored. In fact, a recent online poll from a medical forum involving hundreds of people revealed that 84% of the people think that doctors should tell the patients about the potential benefits of alcohol (Fogoros, 2001). The public should be told the proven benefits of alcohol and if it seems like a viable solution for that person, they should seek professional medical help on the subject. With the number of tests that have been done on the matter, it is amazing how little is known about the health benefits. When people are polled the most common answer to the question "Is alcohol good for you?" is no, and if it is yes, it is only wine. The facts need to be presented more clearly to the public. There are several factors as to why alcohol is viewed so poorly. The main reason is that it seems to be frowned upon by the main religions; but this is simply not true. The Bible, for instance does indeed say that you should not drink to excess, but in Proverbs 31 it says, "Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more." It is saying that God gave Man the fermented grape to help alleviate some of the pains of everyday life that Man encounters because of the Sin (Adam and Eve). There are numerous other passages that relate to the drinking of alcohol mentioning that alcohol should not be consumed until the point where you "forget the law" and other such instructions. Again the message has been twisted. You hear many holier-than-thou Christians telling you that thou shalt not drink alcohol and spiritous liquors. Now even though it was spoken in archaic language does not mean that is what the Bible says. A knowledgeable Christian will tell you that a small amount of alcohol is meant to raise the spirits and is mentioned many times throughout the Bible as a good thing. It was a twisted message that was perhaps given becuase in this society today alcohol is the number one drug in use in America today(1.a)(NCADI, 2001). The first time users of alcohol beats even cigarettes by more than a million people. So, while it is understandable that people wish to keep you from harm and do not wish you to go "down that path", you are also being led from another path that alcohol is the start of, namely, the path of well being. So although they are trying to help, they are also reducing potential health benfits.
Now, to go into some of the recent studies that have gone into alcohol and its effects. Efforts have been made to keep the data as objective as possible, and for the full versions the sources will be posted on a seperate page. Here are a few brief facts on several studies done world wide.
-A recent Harvard study found the risk of death from all causes to be 21% to 28% lower among men who drank alcohol moderately, compared to abstainers.
-A large-scale study in China recently found that middle-aged men who drank moderately had a nearly 20% lower overall mortality compared to abstainers.
-Harvard's Nurses' Health Study of over 85,000 women found reduced mortality among moderate drinkers.
-A British analysis of 12,000 male physicians found that moderate drinkers had the lowest risk of death from all causes during the 13 year study.
-A large study of about 88,000 people conducted over a period of ten years found that moderate drinkers were about 27% less likely to die during the period than were either abstainers or heavy drinkers. The superior longevity was largely due to a reduction of such diseases as coronary heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases.
-A large study funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that moderate drinking increased the length of life by about 3% among white males.
-A twelve year long prospective study of over 200,000 men found that subjects who had consumed alcohol in moderation were less likely to die than those who abstained from alcohol. |
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| Orbax |
-The Honolulu Heart Study found a 49% reduction in coronary heart disease among men who drink alcohol in moderation.
-The American Heart Association has also reported moderate consumption of alcohol to be associated with dramatically decreased risk of stroke among both men and women, regardless of age or ethnicity.
(above list and pictures courtesy of Prof. David J. Hanson PhD, http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info/Health/Health.html 2001)
-A study by British researchers indicated that combined with a well balanced, calcium enriched diet, alcohol seems to have a strong correlation to reducing the risks of dangerous bone thinning diseases (BBC news, 2000).
So, what do these studies mean? These studies show that time and time again alcohol and alcoholic beverages have benefits that outweigh the potential threats of alcohol, namely abuse and addiction. Alcohol's addictiveness is not related to the fact that it is alcohol (again a myth). People can binge drink for years and not become alcoholics, while others can drink moderately for a relatively short amount of time and become addicted (Milam, unknown). What is the difference between these people? A study by Goodwin has shown that there is definitely a genetic predisposition to alcoholism (as cited by Peele, 2000). People can become addicted to almost any substance, and although alcohol is easier to become addicted to, it can still be prevented easily by things like consulting a physician before drinking to see if there are any personal reasons why one should not drink. The good news is that only 15% of Americans abuse alcohol. So with the addictive qualities of alcohol being targeted, it is possible to lower the chance of becoming an alcoholic by using the aforementioned step of consulting a physician before any experiments with alcohol.
So moderate amounts of alcohol are good for you; but is that really the way to go? Is alcohol the only answer to your health problems for improving heart, brain, and vascular systems? The answers vary on that point. There are many studies showing that alcohol improves health in these areas, but there are other studies that have some surprising results. One recent study done by University of Wisconsin researchers showed that grape juice has many, but not all, of the benefits of wine. Why? because of chemicals called flavanoids that are present in the grape (and through that into wine). In this study it demonstrated that purple grape juice (purple becuase then the seeds, which contain high levels of flavanoids, are crushed with the rest of the grape) can lower chances of blod clots that can lead to heart troubles, and it also lowers the levels of LDL (bad cholesterol). So chance of heart disease did in fact go down with the ingestion of grape juice. Is this the alternative to wine? The studies say no. Although grape juice does have some of the qualities associated with wine, you simply cannot substitute for the benefits of alcohol. Alcohol has a solvent property that tends to destroy LDLs and the like with greater efficiency that anything else. Grape juice is a great alternative to wine if the taste repels you, but alcohol has been shown to have the greater benefit. Many of the symptoms in strokes are directly related to the coagulation of blood and the high LDL content. Studies have shown that moderate drinkers have less chances of getting not only strokes but numerous other diseases. The disease that alcohol seems to lessen the chance of getting are: angina pectoris, bone fractures and osteoporosism, diabetes, digestive ailments, duodenal ulcer, erectile dysfunction, essential tremors, gallstones, hearing loss, Hepatitis A, kidney stones, liver disease, Macular degeneration (Blindness), pancreatic cancer, Parkinson's Disease, poor cognition and memory, poor physical condition in elderly, rheumatoid arthritis, stress and depression, and Type B Gastritis (Hanson, 1997). |
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| Orbax |
Now, on the flip side there seems to be a small movement that is trying to show that there is no benefit what so ever to drinking alcohol. Now this is hard to believe when there have been numerous studies that have involved 80,000 people, and lasted for decades. For the most part the anti-alcohol articles are based on glossing over the moderate drinking aspect of alcohol and pinpointing the fact that binge drinking is bad for you. This conclusion had been reached decades ago, but many writers who have a personal agenda against alcohol try to sway people by using examples of certain persons who have conusmed toxic and even sometimes fatal amounts of alcohol and pointing out that alcohol kills. To quote an article from the BBC news "The bottom line is that binge drinking is not good for one" (1999). Now, this was the conlcusion of the article titled Alcohol Benefits Debunked. The article had no relevance to its own title, and more importantly, extremely small amounts of scientific data to back up what they were saying. Another example is an article titled Alcohol Industry Overstates Benefits. Many of these subtly twisted media messages convey the sense that alcohol affects health negatively, but one should always be looking at the real message.
The other slightly twisted message of the media regarding alcohol is its effect on social behavior. Beer commercials convey the message that if you drink beer you will have a lot of sexual encounters. They are always portrayed with beautiful women holding beer, and in one commerical rubbing the bottle all over their bodies, to get the message out (to mainly those who are hormone driven (Pre adults and early twenties men) that beer brings women and possibly sex! Alcohol, as previously stated, is the number one drug in America and it is partly due to the fact that sex sells. The largest factor that pressures people into drinking socially is the fact that you lose inhibition when intoxicated. The saying, "What soberness conceals, drunkeness reveals" shows that the common belief held about alcohol is that it unlocks "Your true self". This is partly true. The main thing that defines a person is how that person interprets data in their frontal lobe and how that interpretation influences the rest of their brain and body. The very first thing that alcohol affects is the frontal lobe. One thing to be noticed is that one drunken jerk is much like the next, they all act the same. Alcohol cuts out the whole thinking problem, and lets people be more basic and rely more on things like the lymbic system than their thoughts. Unfortunately this has led to higher numbers than ever of under age drinking, and people who drink to excess in college. Here are some fairly incredible facts about underage drinking:
-First use of alcohol usually begins around the age of 13
-Junior and senior high school students drink 35 percent of all wine coolers sold in the U.S.; they also consume 1.1 billion cans of beer
-87 percent of high school seniors have used alcohol; in comparison, 63 percent have smoked cigarettes; 32 percent have used marijuana, and only 6 percent have used cocaine.
-Alcohol use is implicated in almost two thirds of the sexual assault and date rape cases among teens and college students.
-240,000 to 360,000 of the current college student body will eventually die of alcohol-related causes [probably smoking]. That's comparable to the entire undergraduate body of the Big Ten dropping dead! (Above list: MUDPC, 2001)
The age at where most drinking was taking place has been moving down the age timeline in a bubble like fashion, and although the numbers of overall drinkers is lower, the number of young drinkers is higher than it has been in previous studies. The popularity of clubs and bars combined with the fact that only 15% of the drinking population over drinks, shows that most people understand the dangers associated with excess drinking and it seems to have increased social behaviors.
Alcohol is one of the most important substances of our day. It reduces the chances of inumerable diseases, promotes communication, and has advanced the civilization of man*. There used to be a raging conflict over whether or not alcohol is good for you, but with the recent studies the argument seems to have been shifted to how alochol should be portrayed to people. The fact that it has health benefits is understood by many in the scientific community, but the layperson still seems largely ignorant of the facts. Alcohol is part of every culture across the world, and it will continue to be used. The emphasis should be on how to lower the levels of abuse. Anything the media presents should be looked askance at, as alwyas, and even more so with alcohol becuase it is a big story so they will try to sensationalize it as much as possible. All in all, Alcohol is one of Mankind's most important liquids, besides water (which is also bad for you in excess becuase it throws off electrolyte balances), and should be treated with the delicacy and respect such a healthy poison deserves.
*This is pure speculation, but society may well have never advanced if not for the advent of alcohol into some cultures. Alcohol production requires agriculture and without agriculture and a stable position socitey cannot continue to advance. If you look at the North American native Americans and they had no alcohol and they were nomads. The spanish on the other hand had alcohol and had an empire and were using guns to take over the non-alcoholic natives all over the Americas. |
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| Orbax |
| ^^^ that was my psychology final. it has about 23 graphs and images and stuff, but didnt feel like uploading them. This is my second Bible guys, its ing beautiful. She said pick any topic so i did the health benefits of alcohol cuz thats close to my heart. I hope you learn something from this, because I believe that God put me on earth to spread the word about alcohol, and that is actually a fairly serious statement |
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| BTG |
did anyone not catch my joke? >: (
good post Orbax btw.. |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by BTG
did anyone not catch my joke? >: (
good post Orbax btw.. |
Yea you not so subtle "drinking by yourself is ok" (which it is) alcoholic ... :)
Orbax is my new cult leader. I shall sacrifice a cranberry vodka in your name. |
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| chjo |
Why drink :conf: :conf:
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| PhloTron |
I don't really drink so I dunno...
...but my observation is this...
Why Eat huge meals of carbs prior (pasta/pizza) for "energy" when Beer is Loaded with Carbs?...and when I say loaded I mean LOADED...especially when looking at a Heffeweizen, or dark beer.
???
If your going to pull a 24 hour deal...I'd say rest up prior too..and then don't do it on an empty stomach...eat before, and during your pointless experience. :)
I'll stick to caffeine! |
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| diffusion |
When drinking a lot over an extended period of time, usually in festivals, I start feeling warm inside, and each beer doesn't really do me any more drunk... The coolest thing is that after like 10 hours of so, I'm usually becomming EXTREMELY wasted.:crazy:
Food: Any junkfood you can get hold of
Remember that you shouldn't do this to often, your body might disintergrate :):eyespop: |
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| Orbax |
| quote: | Originally posted by PhloTron
I don't really drink so I dunno...
during your pointless experience. :)
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I shall pray for your soul my son |
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| smokeape |
Hey, I drink all the time just like right now. It's legal. Some other stuff ain't. Sure it might kill me, but then again I could be a teatotaler and get hit by a beer truck. I won't knock anybody for not drinking though. This is my first entry. Maybe now I can get a picture and stuff. I tried last week and gave up. I think you have to wait a day or something before you can actually do something.
--{{{Smoke}}}-- |
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