Alcoholic drinks affect people differently. The rate of alcohol consumption depends on body weight, general health, gender and age. With a slow metabolism, hormonal disorders, concomitant diseases, chronic alcohol poisoning ethanol has a stronger effect on humans and stays in the blood longer.
What determines the permissible limit for drinking alcohol?
The permissible dose of alcohol depends on the individual characteristics of the body, therefore, when drinking the same amount of ethanol, some people get drunk faster, others slower.
Factors influencing alcohol consumption:
- body weight;
- genetic predisposition to alcoholism;
- taking medications;
- rate of alcohol consumption;
- smoking;
- chronic diseases of the endocrine system;
- race;
- type of alcoholic drink;
- gender, age.
Overweight people can drink large quantity alcohol than thin people, since ethanol breakdown products can accumulate in fatty tissues. Young people have a higher metabolic rate than older people, so the body processes .
The level of alcohol intake is influenced by the level of the liver’s digestive enzyme, acetaldehydrogenase, which decomposes acetaldehyde. It has been proven that among northern nationalities this substance is produced in small quantities oh, and they easily get drunk even from a small amount of alcohol.
Degree alcohol intoxication depends on the food consumed during the feast. Fatty, meat dishes slow down the breakdown of alcohol and its penetration into the blood, creating a film on the inner surface of the stomach. Hot spices not only prevent the body from quickly processing ethanol, but also increase intoxication and hangover syndrome.
According to WHO data, the maximum permissible norm alcohol for a man of average build is 30–40 g pure alcohol per day. This figure is equivalent to two bottles light beer, three glasses of dry wine or 100 g of vodka 40%.
The harmless amount of ethanol for the brain is 19 g, and for normal operation liver, the dosage should not exceed 90 ml. The safe dose can be calculated using the formula:
- 1.5 ml of pure alcohol × 1 kg of body weight.
When calculating the result, it should be taken into account that the content of the substance varies greatly in different drinks. For example, 100 ml of dark beer contains 50 ml of alcohol, and the same volume of semi-sweet wine contains 12.5.
The permissible alcohol intake for an adult male with an average weight of 70 kg, who does not suffer from chronic diseases, is (ml):
- beer – 250;
- dry wine, champagne – 100;
- fortified wine – 75;
- vodka – 30.
The given data is relevant if a person does not abuse alcoholic beverages and does not drink the next day after a heavy libation. The safe weekly norm is 210 ml of pure alcohol for men and 135 for the fairer sex.
Alcohol limits for women
The female body reacts more strongly to the intake of alcohol than the male body. This is due to lower body weight, more low level acetaldehydrogenase, frequent changes in hormone concentrations. Safe daily dose pure ethanol for women is 30 ml.
Ladies can consume up to 140 g per week without fear for their health. A volume of alcohol of 140–280 ml is considered to have an average risk of developing alcoholism, and 280–350 g of ethanol can cause severe intoxication of the body and the appearance of a pathological craving for strong drinks.
To break down ethanol, water molecules are incorporated into alcohol molecules, turning them into acetaldehyde, a very toxic substance. Water in female body contains 10% less than in men, therefore, even with the same dosage of alcohol, body weight and height, the concentration of ethanol in the blood of the fairer sex will be higher.
Sex hormones play an important role; they lower the level of acetaldehydrogenase and accelerate the processing of alcohol in the liver. As a result, alcohol is absorbed slowly and liver cells are destroyed faster. A particularly dangerous period is the second phase of the menstrual cycle. Drinking during pregnancy is strictly prohibited, and other medications are also prohibited.
The rate of alcohol consumption depends on gender, age category and many other factors. You can calculate your own safe dose by knowing your body weight and the amount of pure alcohol in the alcohol consumed. It is important to consider that each person’s body is individual and may react differently to ethanol breakdown products.
The French are world-famous gurus of gastronomic pleasures. Many are inspired by their ability to regularly enjoy wine and maintain excellent physical condition.
Apparently it's the drink? So how much wine should you drink per day for your body to feel good? Let's be clear: alcohol is a poison, not a medicine. In this article we will reveal the permissible number of glasses of wine that will not destroy your health.
Is wine healthy?
The grape drink is valued all over the world primarily for its amazing taste. Many are also confident in the beneficial effects of wine on the body.
Here is a list of the advantages of red and white nectar:
- increased appetite;
- normalization of acidity in the stomach and microflora;
- removal of toxins and waste;
- strengthening the immune system (protection against viral diseases);
- prevention of caries;
- antidepressant effects;
- lowering cholesterol levels;
- improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
The drink is also credited with getting rid of cellulite, smoothing the skin, and slowing down cell aging. The last point needs clarification.
In short. A glass of dry red wine will improve digestion and strengthen the immune system. Dilates blood vessels (no blood clots - no heart attacks), removes harmful substances. It will make the skin glowing and smooth, soothe and give you healthy sleep. White wine is less rich in nutrients.
Urgently running to get a bottle for the evening? Take your time. 500 independent studies by the World Health Organization in 1993 did not find clear evidence of the benefits of wine.
Do you feel better after a glass? To your health. However, don't expect any official scientific blessing.
But for harmful effects you don't need to go far. The main hostile component of wine is alcohol, and with it everything was clear a long time ago.
Let's look at the disadvantages of drinking wine:
- migraine;
- dehydration;
- slower muscle growth;
- metabolic deterioration;
- exacerbation of asthma;
- risk of developing addiction.
Beauty connoisseurs should remember the set excess weight. A glass of wine contains an average of 100 calories (only 5% of which are absorbed). However, alcohol stops the fat burning process for 12 hours and slows down metabolism.
The consequences of long-term abuse of alcoholic beverages are more sad (and proven 100% in contrast to the “beneficial effects”):
- destruction of brain matter (deterioration of information processing, memory, learning ability);
- development of heart failure and arrhythmia;
- inflammation and cirrhosis of the liver;
- hallucinations;
- stroke;
- gastritis;
- weakened immune system and much, much more...
What about the “French paradox”? No one takes into account the genetic characteristics of the population, climate, other quality of wine, food and food culture.
But what about useful components? They are beautiful in themselves, but the healing is completely removed by the destructive power of alcohol. Need antioxidants? Eat dark chocolate.
What about the relaxing effect? In principle, it is not recommended to drink alcohol in a state of excitement, severe fatigue, depression, or illness.
Here's one last thing for you wise advice from the amazing Evgeny Leonov “On the benefits of alcohol”:
How to drink the drink without harm to health
From the question of how much wine is healthy and necessary to drink per day, we smoothly moved on to the reasonable: “How much is possible?” The World Health Organization has set guidelines for daily alcohol consumption:
- for men - 40 g ethyl alcohol per day (equivalent to choose from: 3 glasses of dry wine, 1-2 cans of beer, 100 grams of vodka);
- for a woman - up to 30 g of ethanol (1-2 glasses of wine, 1 bottle of beer, 80 grams of vodka).
A glass of wine means 150 ml, a bottle/can of beer means 330 ml. In addition to volume, it is important to monitor regularity. In principle, it is not recommended for men and women to drink wine every day. After taking a portion, you need to take a break - at least 2 days. You also can’t drink a week’s worth of it at once.
Do you want to completely avoid problems with alcohol? Then your option is 1 serving up to 3 times a week. For a woman, this is a total of 300-400 ml of wine, taken on different days.
The first news of mild addiction is up to 9 doses of alcohol per week, a severe case is exceeding this amount.
Is there a safe dose of alcohol per day for a person? Each of us has at least once asked the question “if alcoholic products produce, so it must have certain positive aspects for a person?” In general, we can answer this question positively. Taking this into account, the question arises: “what dose of alcohol is harmless to the human body, is there such an amount of ethanol that will not harm, but will only bring benefit?” In order to understand this issue, you need to find out whether alcohol can be beneficial at all and how much you need to drink to improve your body.
The answer to this question is positive, but taking into account all the nuances and individual characteristics of the human body. If a person suddenly has a heart attack, to relieve the symptoms, you can drink 10 grams of vodka or cognac. The same dose is acceptable for hepatic or renal colic. Low blood pressure is slightly stabilized by 30 grams of cognac. But you should not take this as a recommendation for action.
For many centuries, red wine has been famous for its medicinal properties. This is all thanks to the fact that grapes contain resveratrol (a natural phytoalexin).
It has the following properties:
- Suspends the development of tumors;
- Fights and prevents infectious diseases;
- Helps immune system due to its hepatoprotective properties;
- Improves the body's metabolism;
- Lowers sugar levels;
- Helps in transporting oxygen throughout cells;
- Improves exchange between cells;
- Minimizes the risk of myocardial infarction, obesity and atherosclerosis;
- Cleanses the body of cholesterol;
- Replenishes vitamin B;
- Gives elasticity to blood vessels;
- Helps with colds if you follow the required dosage.
Undoubtedly, the doctor prefers medications alcohol treatment, but all because not everyone will be able to control the process of the permissible dose. Against this background, alcoholism may develop, which will aggravate the symptoms of the existing disease.
The same applies to vodka; consuming 30 grams per day will only benefit you:
- Helps effectively reduce fever;
- The purest drink without various impurities;
- Will improve the condition nervous system;
- Will give vigor and strength to the body;
- Narrows loose veins.
As already mentioned, it is impossible to say for sure whether there is a safe amount. Even scientists and doctors disagree. Some argue that you can only drink one drink per week, while others assure us that a glass of vodka or half a glass of wine per month is alcoholism. Every doctor can assure you that every person has an individual permissible dose, which is calculated based on all physiological and psychological characteristics.
This last assumption is particularly relevant to gender differences. Women, because they are the weaker sex, are very susceptible to the influence of alcohol. If they drink even the minimum dose of alcohol every day, literally in 1.5 years they will become drunk. The stronger sex is much more resilient in this matter; the advanced phase of alcoholism in men occurs after 10 years.
Based on many years of research, we can conclude that permissible doses Oh.
For men it is equal to:
- Shots of vodka;
- Glass of wine;
- Two glasses of beer.
In women, the maximum dose is two times less than in men. Of course, drinking one drink is allowed, and not all at once.
Doctors believe that such a dose will not harm a person in any way, but will only normalize some body functions. But exceeding the norm can gradually worsen your condition and lead to alcoholism.
There is another theory. Men are allowed to consume 40 grams once every three days, translated into drinks - this is a shot of vodka, a liter of beer or half a liter of dry red wine. Women are allowed 0.7 ml of beer, one and a half glasses of vodka, or 300 ml of dry wine. Important condition: break for 2 days.
Another interesting fact: A lot depends on what country you drink in. In cold regions, a person gets drunk much faster than in warm and moderate conditions.
It is also important to consider the age of the drinker. The younger a person is, the faster he succumbs to ethanol, and his body becomes more sensitive to toxins. The fact that the person drank doesn’t even matter. For example, a 16-year-old guy will get drunk from one mug of light beer much faster than a 35-year-old guy. summer man from a glass of cognac.
Of course, all data is subjective and relative. Each person must calculate his own dose at which he feels normal.
That is why, let's look at all the positive and negative properties each drink.
- Sparkling wine is the most festive drink. Helps cope with irritability, increases appetite and taste perception. Helps cope with swelling and heart failure. During a cold, you should add two tablespoons of sugar to champagne and let it simmer. After boiling, drink at night, all symptoms will disappear by morning. However, it is undesirable for people with gastritis due to the influence of gases. It was found that the ideal dose is 2 glasses.
- Wine or wine drink. Red wine promotes heart function, slows down the aging process and the development of diseases gastrointestinal tract. But white wine can restore your appetite. Both types suppress the process of infection spreading in the body. Contraindicated for kidney stones and prostatitis. Safe dose – 1 glass.
- Cognac is aimed at dilating blood vessels and relieving headache symptoms. Helps with hypertension and angina pectoris, calms the central nervous system. The darker the drink, the stronger the hangover, and the longer it ages, the more beneficial it is for a person. Prohibited when diabetes mellitus And cholelithiasis. One, maximum 2 glasses is useful.
- Vodka is one of the purest drinks. Helps cope with infectious diseases, headaches (if you do not exceed the norm). Lowers cholesterol and stabilizes digestion. At the same time, vodka tops the list of drinks that most quickly become addictive. Useful quantity– a glass a day.
But at the same time, the entire list is united by a single consequence - alcoholism. Most often it leads to myocardial infarction, stroke, liver cirrhosis, and complete depression of the central nervous system. A safe dose per day will only help people who don’t drink; for alcoholics, it will only cause a further desire to drink.
Enough interest Ask“When does addiction begin?”, not every doctor will be able to answer this. In addition, not every person will be able to admit to himself that he is an alcoholic and needs help. Some people drink every day, but low alcohol drinks, and some rarely, but on a grand scale. Then which one of them is dependent?
The World Health Organization can answer this question by presenting a classification:
Safe stage. It is recorded only when a man consumes no more than 210 ml, and a woman 135 ml of pure ethanol for seven days. This norm should not be drunk in one day, but distributed over the whole week. You can take 40 ml or 30 ml of ethyl alcohol per day.
Dangerous stage. The person has crossed the norms of the safe phase. A complete violation of all permissible doses, a violation of the sobriety regime. The consequences of this form may be various diseases and chronic alcoholism.
Drinking with negative consequences. This stage is characterized by constant binge drinking, feeling the desire to get drunk. A person completely loses control over the alcohol he drinks; there is no sense of proportion. This stage cannot be called alcoholism, but the body suffers greatly.
Alcoholism. A person sees the whole meaning of life in a bottle. Even health problems do not stop him. The fun and joy from intoxication gave way to anger and aggression. At the same time, a person cannot stop drinking. He drinks as much as he can afford.
If we rely on data from the World Health Organization, a person can drink up to 8 liters of alcohol per year, exceeding the norm can lead to disastrous consequences. But Russian narcologists claim that a dose of 15 liters over 12 months is detrimental to human health and leads to alcoholism.
The question immediately arises: why is the dose exceeded in Russia? The answer lies in Russian nature; the concepts of “holiday” and “alcohol” are equal to each other. No holiday is complete without alcohol. Not offering someone a drink during a celebration is a sign of disrespect.
Perhaps, on an ordinary day, a person can control how much he drinks, but during a holiday he believes that he can allow himself to relax and increase the amount of alcohol. In order not to wake up the next morning with the strongest hangover syndrome, a person should set himself in advance within certain limits, indicating how much alcohol he can afford.
Sometimes, not only holidays, but also common colds lead to alcoholism. Man, instead medicines chooses strong drinks. Undoubtedly, alcohol will help cope with microbes, but at the same time it will affect every organ and cause severe damage to it. It should be noted that by combining the drug and alcohol, you will “disarm” your liver. The organ simply cannot cope with all the incoming toxins, and will work at the limit of its capabilities.
It is the lack of control over the consumption of alcoholic beverages that leads a person to fatal consequences. Excess permissible quantity Alcohol poisons the body, from the liver to the brain. 1200 ml of vodka drunk within 2 hours can become lethal dose for a person. At the same time, do not forget that if a person has health problems, then intoxication and poisoning will occur many times faster. If a person experiences a strong drop in temperature and difficulty breathing, this indicates that the body cannot cope, every organ begins to fail.
There is no need to find out if the dose is safe and how much you can take per day. It is important to monitor your own well-being while drinking and listen to the “bells” of your body.
The World Health Organization has raised the bar for a safe dose of alcohol. Now, according to WHO recommendations published recently, a healthy man can drink up to 10 liters of pure alcohol per year without harm to his health. Women are allowed a third less.
This WHO generosity is equivalent to about one bottle of vodka per week. But our narcologists are more conservative; they still adhere to the usual limits: a maximum of 8 liters of “pure” alcohol per year and 3-4 days of complete sobriety per week. At the same time, more and more doctors are insisting on changing the traditional principles of providing assistance to people with alcohol problems that have been established since Soviet times. This topic was discussed by the main narcologists of the Russian regions at an all-Russian meeting in Moscow.
“More than 8 liters of pure alcohol per person per year is the extinction of a nation,” says the head of the psychotherapy department of the National Scientific Center for Narcology, Professor Tatyana Agibalova. “We currently consume 15.1 liters. We are in the negative top. Increased consumption alcohol does not appear out of nowhere - these are attempts to relieve stress, to some extent escape from reality, to solve some psychological problems. This works partly: after drinking, a withdrawn person becomes liberated, his mood improves, and problems are relegated to the background. But still, this is a psychological trap and a pseudo-solution to problems. Man pays too high a price for this. Pays with pathology of the liver, heart, brain. Moreover, when real symptoms of the disease appear, the person, as a rule, is already deeply dependent on alcohol.”
In our country, drug treatment services have traditionally been structured in such a way that turning to a specialist means setting yourself up for a bunch of additional problems. The person is at risk of losing his job. Lose your driver's license. And treatment guidelines are prohibitive in nature. The doctor instructs the patient to completely abstain from alcohol.
“Our therapy is focused on increasing the patient’s fear, fear of consequences,” explains Tatyana Agibalova. “But this does not always work. We set the person up for a strict refusal to drink any alcoholic beverages, we demand to hold on at all costs. As a result, the patient endures and endures, and then often "comes off" to the fullest. The difficulty is also that our society itself does not support people who don't drink. Absolute teetotalers are often looked at askance - if they don't drink, it means they are either sick or something else is wrong with the person."
In Europe, an innovative therapeutic concept for the treatment of alcohol addiction has been developed - narcologists have decided to abandon the completely prohibitive nature of drug treatment. The patient is encouraged to gradually reduce the dose he drinks, he is in contact with the doctor, follows his recommendations, but controls his behavior independently. Drugs have also appeared that help “not lose your head” and stop in time - this is how patients “save themselves” from the need to follow total restrictions on drinking, which they fear no less than the long-term consequences of too close “friendship” with alcohol. This method of treatment has already been clinically tested in 27 European countries. Experts say that during the first month, patients achieved a 40% reduction in the amount they drank, and after six months they could safely limit themselves by half.
By 2020, the goal has been set to significantly reduce alcohol consumption in Russia. One of the tasks is the creation of drug treatment centers in the regions, different from the existing drug service. The goal is to be able to receive free help without compromising your personal and social life. Today, having decided to quit, the majority have to either act independently or go for anonymous treatment from private doctors.
Expert advice
How much can you drink with minimal risk to health?
There are so-called standard doses of alcohol, which English language are called "drinks". IN different countries this dose includes 13.7 g to 20 g pure alcohol. This dose can be obtained by drinking, for example, a couple of glasses of dry wine or a glass of vodka or cognac. It is believed that the safe amount of alcohol for men is 14-28 drinks per week, and for women - 7-14 drinks. Moreover, this norm is conditional: for some people, for example, with unfavorable heredity, the risk of deterioration in health occurs when drinking very small quantities of alcohol.
How to drink correctly?
They often say: in Europe they eat with a drink, but in our country they drink with a snack. Main principle should be - the less the better. And, of course, the drinks must be of high quality. It is better to give preference to dry - not fortified or dessert - wines. Vodka, cognac, and other strong drinks, if they enter the stomach, can cause a condition close to a burn to the mucous membrane, so it is better to dilute high-proof drinks. If we stretch out a diluted drink (it could be wine) over the whole evening, then the total dose of pure alcohol will be small and the harm to health will be minimized. Since the oxidation of alcohol in the body requires an increased consumption of vitamins, it is advisable to take multivitamins, and the table must include greens, vegetables and fruits. A couple of glasses of water after a glass of wine will help you stay hydrated.
How healthy is dry red wine?
Truly compelling evidence of benefit moderate consumption Alcohol, including dry wines, has not yet been received. But many experts believe that the dose of pure alcohol, and not the type of drink, is of primary importance in the ability to relieve stress. Therefore, it is better to drink less, but better.
How to control yourself for addiction to alcohol?
If a person always or often drinks more than he planned, if the doses exceed such that withdrawal symptoms are felt the next day, then the person’s ability to control alcohol consumption is impaired. And this is a key sign of beginning alcohol addiction.
Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Courtney Love, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell, Drew Barrymore - that's far from full list stars who had problems with alcohol. Tobey Maguire also publicly admitted his addiction to the green snake, which almost prevented him from starring in the Spider-Man sequel. So what dose of alcohol is considered safe for humans? And where is the line beyond which addiction begins?
Can alcohol be beneficial?
Yes, if we are talking about a heart attack, hepatic or renal colic. At a time when there are no medicines, you can use cognac or vodka - 1 tablespoon of one of these drinks will relieve vasospasm and improve the patient’s condition before the ambulance arrives. Small doses of alcohol also help people suffering from hypotension: 1-2 tablespoons of cognac can revive a person with low blood pressure. blood pressure. No one will argue with the beneficial effects of dry red wines on the human body. The fact is that in the skins of red grape varieties and in grape seeds contains resveratrol, a natural compound that has a powerful antioxidant effect. Entering the human body with berries or wine made from them, this substance prevents the development of cardiovascular and oncological diseases, delays age-related changes in the brain and musculoskeletal system. Besides, natural wines improve digestion and prevent the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. Although the World Health Organization prohibits doctors from recommending any alcoholic beverages to their patients as medicine. And all because alcohol is beneficial can only be in small doses, but in large quantities it causes addiction and the development of alcoholism.
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What dose of alcohol is considered safe?
According to the recommendations of the same WHO, men should drink no more than 40 g of pure alcohol per day (about 2 bottles of beer, 100 ml of vodka or 3 glasses of dry wine). And for women - 30 g of pure alcohol (1.5 bottles of beer or 80 g of vodka, 2 glasses of dry wine). And this is provided that the person does not take a drop of alcohol 2 days a week.
When does addiction start?
Few people dare to admit to alcohol addiction. Most people consider themselves light drinkers, but one person can drink a bottle of beer a day, but every day, while another drink rarely, but drink heavily. Which of them has problems with alcohol? The World Health Organization knows the answer to this question. WHO experts distinguish four forms of alcohol consumption.
Bsafe form. This is when a person drinks no more than 210 ml (for men) or 135 ml (for women) of pure alcohol per week. At the same time, the amount of alcohol per day should not exceed safe doses: 40 ml (for men) and 30 ml of ethyl alcohol (for women).
Dangerousform. This is when a person exceeds safe doses and does not comply with the sobriety regime. Doctors warn that with such an attitude towards alcoholic beverages, a person risks becoming addicted to alcohol in the future and getting one of the diseases associated with alcohol as a “bonus”. excessive consumption strong drinks(liver cirrhosis, stomach ulcer, anemia, heart failure, etc.).
Consumption with harmful consequences. This is when a person drinks heavily (continuous consumption of alcohol for more than 2 days) and feels an irresistible desire to get hungover. But the most characteristic symptom of this form is loss of control over the amount of drinking. That is, a person loses his sense of proportion, and therefore more and more often he gets drunk. The third form of drinking alcohol is not yet considered an addiction, but it does involve the brain and internal organs drinking man are pretty worn out.
Alcoholism. This form of alcohol consumption is characterized by a person’s persistent reluctance to give up alcohol, even in the name of poor health. At this stage, the form of intoxication also changes, for example, before a person got drunk, became cheerful and fell asleep, but now he has an aggressive form of behavior. At the same time, the dose of alcohol drunk in one day increases several times.
Alcohol addiction test:
Have you told yourself at least once that it’s time to stop drinking?
Have there ever been times when others criticized you for drinking frequently?
Do you feel guilty about your weakness for alcohol?
Did you want to get a hangover?
If you answered yes to 2-3 questions, the probability of alcohol dependence is 90%.
Irina Chernaya
We thank Yuri Galich, a doctor-narcologist of the highest category at the Medicom clinic, for the information provided.
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