Is alcohol good for you?

Alcohol (ethanol) is an interesting compound and is a subject of enjoyment, fun, pain as well as controversy. According to evolutionary biologists, organisms on earth developed the ability to metabolize alcohol about 10 million years ago from the need to utilize fermented fruits as food.

Alcohol is synthesized in the body as a byproduct of other metabolic reactions and it is estimated that humans make about 3 grams of alcohol daily from the fermentation of food material in the digestive system. The main pathway for alcohol metabolism involves the oxidation of ethanol into acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Acetaldehyde is then converted to acetic acid which is then converted to acetyl-CoA. Acetly-CoA is then funneled through the energy generating pathways in the cell mitochondria which is the power house of the cell.

While the body can handle small amounts of alcohol without incident, problems arise when we introduce large quantities of alcohol into the body. Build up of large quantities of ethanol metabolic products such as acetaldehyde is believed to be responsible for the deleterious health effects of consuming excess quantities of alcohol. Acetaldehyde is highly toxic and is even more so in the absence of Vitamin C or Thiamine (Vitamin B1). Hangover and altered consciousness are believed to be mediated by these agents. In addition, ethanol inhibits the enzyme ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) which is responsible for absorbing water in the kidneys into the blood stream and is responsible for the dehydrating effects of heavy alcohol consumption.

When it comes to alcohol, quantity is very important. While there are some health claims for moderate consumption of alcohol such as reduction of heart disease, those who don’t drink should not start drinking for health benefits. Resveratrol is an important anti-aging compound that is present in wine.

Here are the recommended limits for alcohol consumption;

·         One drink a day for women of all ages and men over 65 years of age.

·         Two drinks a day for men 65 years of age or younger.

This represents about 12-14 grams of alcohol.

Examples of one drink sizes are;

·         Wine- five ounces.

·         Beer= 12 ounces

·         Spirits- 1.5 ounces

Even if you have a risk of heart disease, you should not use alcohol as a drug. Best results are obtained when diet, exercise and when the right supplements are incorporated as part of a positive lifestyle.