Anti-Aging and Alcohol
Alcohol can be both good and bad, often at the same time.
Quite apart from the psychosocial and relaxant effects, alcohol has a number of positive effects on health and wellbeing.
However, binge drinking and excessive chronic intake are a leading cause of preventable death, particularly in young adults and men, but also increasingly, in women.
Its individual and social costs are even more significant.
Alcohol affects the mind and the body in a number of ways:
Heavy drinkers have more heart disease, hypertension, dementia and some cancers (especially breast and colon cancer), quiet apart from its individual and social costs.
Yet there are some drinking habits that are associated with improved health and longevity.
A moderate habit is associated with improved survival and a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, diabetes, and some cancers when compared to those who don't drink at all or drink only occasionally.
This means less than four drinks per day for men and less than two per day for women, as women achieve higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood and become more impaired than men after drinking equivalent amounts of alcohol.
The best outcomes are seen with a regular intake of half to one drink per day in both men and women.
Daily alcohol intake provides superior benefits, especially in men, compared with less frequent consumption, possibly because the effects of alcohol on metabolism are short-lived.
Irregular heavy drinking bouts, even if accompanied by usual moderation can undo any benefits.
Everyone should still have one or two alcohol-free days every week.
Alcohol is probably most beneficial (and less intoxicating) when consumed with a meal, away from sleep.
This kind of drinking pattern can also be easier to regulate and the right bottle can also add significantly to the experience and flavour of a meal.
Red wine and anti-aging The benefits of a moderate alcohol intake are seen regardless of the beverage.
However, red wine has some advantages over beer or spirits.
One reason may be that lifestyle factors that permit a regular limited intake are more common with wine drinkers.
In addition, red wine contains a number of antioxidants including resveratrol.
However, beer also contains antioxidants (eg.
isohumulones from hops) some of which may better absorbed than those in wine.
Light beers may have a number of advantages, as the potential for intoxication and abuse is reduced along with the alcohol content.
Many also contain reduced calories, while retaining both flavor and flavanoids.
By contrast, most spirits are largely devoid of phytonutrients, and are more readily abused.
There is not enough evidence to suggest that non-drinkers should start drinking and there are many effective ways to get antioxidants into our diet, other than red wine and beer.
Quite apart from the psychosocial and relaxant effects, alcohol has a number of positive effects on health and wellbeing.
However, binge drinking and excessive chronic intake are a leading cause of preventable death, particularly in young adults and men, but also increasingly, in women.
Its individual and social costs are even more significant.
Alcohol affects the mind and the body in a number of ways:
- Alcohol inhibits the functions of the brain, especially at the front end whose job it is to think through what we are doing.
When this area is boozed we lose some of your inhibitions.
This is why alcohol seems relaxing and takes away (thoughts of) your worries.
This disinhibition can also lead to bad choices, such as dancing on tables or driver error.
More alcohol and other areas of the brain are also affected, leading to disturbed balance, slurred speech, blurred vision and other symptoms recognizable as being drunk. - Long term alcohol use can lead to dependency.
Going without a drink can trigger symptoms including nausea, fatigue, shakes, or even hallucinations. - Alcohol affects our sleep.
While we may feel groggy, deep sleep and dream sleep are suppressed.
This, along with the hangover, can make us grumpy and tired the next day. - Alcohol blocks pathways normally used to retain water, so we pee more.
For every standard drink, beyond normal losses, we lose about 150 mls of urine.
Have at least one glass of water for every glass of alcohol.
This is why most good restaurants have two glasses.
It's not an either or thing, so use them both. - Most alcohol is removed by the liver's detoxification systems, which use up B group vitamins in the process.
Chronic drinking can therefore deplete our stores of essential nutrients like retinol, Vitamin C, and BETA-carotene. - Alcohol is rich in calories.
Drinking it adds to our calorie burden, manifested most graphically in the 'beer belly'.
Heavy drinkers have more heart disease, hypertension, dementia and some cancers (especially breast and colon cancer), quiet apart from its individual and social costs.
Yet there are some drinking habits that are associated with improved health and longevity.
A moderate habit is associated with improved survival and a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, diabetes, and some cancers when compared to those who don't drink at all or drink only occasionally.
This means less than four drinks per day for men and less than two per day for women, as women achieve higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood and become more impaired than men after drinking equivalent amounts of alcohol.
The best outcomes are seen with a regular intake of half to one drink per day in both men and women.
Daily alcohol intake provides superior benefits, especially in men, compared with less frequent consumption, possibly because the effects of alcohol on metabolism are short-lived.
Irregular heavy drinking bouts, even if accompanied by usual moderation can undo any benefits.
Everyone should still have one or two alcohol-free days every week.
Alcohol is probably most beneficial (and less intoxicating) when consumed with a meal, away from sleep.
This kind of drinking pattern can also be easier to regulate and the right bottle can also add significantly to the experience and flavour of a meal.
Red wine and anti-aging The benefits of a moderate alcohol intake are seen regardless of the beverage.
However, red wine has some advantages over beer or spirits.
One reason may be that lifestyle factors that permit a regular limited intake are more common with wine drinkers.
In addition, red wine contains a number of antioxidants including resveratrol.
However, beer also contains antioxidants (eg.
isohumulones from hops) some of which may better absorbed than those in wine.
Light beers may have a number of advantages, as the potential for intoxication and abuse is reduced along with the alcohol content.
Many also contain reduced calories, while retaining both flavor and flavanoids.
By contrast, most spirits are largely devoid of phytonutrients, and are more readily abused.
There is not enough evidence to suggest that non-drinkers should start drinking and there are many effective ways to get antioxidants into our diet, other than red wine and beer.
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