EPISODE 10 - ALCOHOL AND BODY EFFECTS

Alcohol is a favorite mood-altering drug in most societies and its effects, both pleasant and unpleasant, are well-known. What may not be well known is the fact that alcohol is a toxic drug that produces pathological changes (cirrhosis) in liver tissue and can cause death. Alcohol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; however, alcohol cannot be stored and therefore, the body must oxidize it to get rid of it. Alcohol can only be oxidized in the liver, where enzymes are found to initiate the process. In addition, alcohol directly contributes to malnutrition since a pint of 86 proof alcohol (not an unusual daily intake for an alcoholic) represents about half of the daily energy requirement. However, ethanol does not have any minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats or protein associated with it. Alcohol causes inflammation of the stomach, pancreas, and intestines which impairs the digestion of food and absorption into blood. Moreover, the acetaldehyde (the oxidation product) can interfere with the activation of vitamins.

What it does in the short term and long term

Consistently drinking too much alcohol can lead to a variety of alcohol related illnesses. Drinking over the recommended limit can result in severe health problems.

Short term effects: Alcohol is quickly absorbed by the gut and intestine and into the bloodstream. Higher concentrations of drinks containing alcohol are absorbed at a faster rate. Drinking too much alcohol too fast may result in:

• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Loss of coordination
• Headache
• Hangover (the following day)
• Weight gain

Women are recommended to drink less alcohol than men because they have, in general more body fat and less water in their body than men. This means that the alcohol concentrates more in a woman’s body than in a similar sized man.

In addition, a woman’s liver produces less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase needed to break down alcohol in the liver. This means that the same amount of alcohol will stay in a woman’s body longer than in a man’s.

Alcohol is also high in "empty calories" – in other words of no nutritional value. This is why people who are dependent on alcohol are often malnourished. However, for moderate drinkers, it can help lead to weight gain. Each gram of alcohol is equal to seven calories. So a standard measure of whisky (25ml, 40% ABV) would contain over 50 calories and a pint of beer (5% ABV) over 160.

Long term effects: Long term over–drinking either leads to or increases your risk of a large number of serious health conditions. A common mistake is to assume that these only develop in very heavy drinkers. These include:

• Liver disease – fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer
• Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
• Cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, larynx, breast, bowel and liver
• Stomach disorders
• Pancreatic (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Mental health problems (depression and anxiety)
• Impotence