Adulthood- Alcohol

  • Alcohol must be regarded as a foodstuff as in the body it can be broken down to provide energy
  • it is metabolised in the liver to produce energy for the body, 29KJ(7Kcal)/gram
  • studies have shown moderate consumption of alcohol regularly can help protect against CHD in those people most at risk (e.g 40+ men & post-menopausal women) - it raises HDL cholesterol & lowers LDL cholesterol so helps reduce blood problems which can lead to arteriosclerosis
  • some alcoholic drinks contain a range of PHYTOCHEMICALS e.g red wine has POLYPHENOLS(group of chemical substances found in plants characterized by the presence of more than one phenol group per molecule. e.g they include flavonoids, tannins, lignins & phenylpropanoids.helps prevent disease as properties fight free radicals
  • Guinness is an excellent source of iron
  • alcohol consumed with food is absorbed more slowly therefore taking a longer time to have an affect on the body
  • alcohol thins the blood and can prevent your blood from clotting- Whisky is good for thinning blood
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  • Created by: Kerry
  • Created on: 22-05-13 12:52

The benefits of alcohol

  • Alcohol must be regarded as a foodstuff as in the body it can be broken down to provide energy
  • it is metabolised in the liver to produce energy for the body, 29KJ(7Kcal)/gram
  • studies have shown moderate consumption of alcohol regularly can help protect against CHD in those people most at risk (e.g 40+ men & post-menopausal women) - it raises HDL cholesterol & lowers LDL cholesterol so helps reduce blood problems which can lead to arteriosclerosis
  • some alcoholic drinks contain a range of PHYTOCHEMICALS e.g red wine has POLYPHENOLS(group of chemical substances found in plants characterized by the presence of more than one phenol group per molecule. e.g they include flavonoids, tannins, lignins & phenylpropanoids.helps prevent disease as properties fight free radicals
  • Guinness is an excellent source of iron
  • alcohol consumed with food is absorbed more slowly therefore taking a longer time to have an affect on the body
  • alcohol thins the blood and can prevent your blood from clotting- Whisky is good for thinning blood
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Health risks of Alcohol

  • Not essential as carbohydrates, protein & fat five us energy
  • excessive amounts over a long period of time can cause liver damage & other diseases
  • people are more likely to eat higher fat foods as alcholol makes you hungry therefore socialisng drinking etc. can lead to weight gain

Short term health effects

  • it is a drug and affect the Central Nervous System
  • is aborbed quickly from the stomach & distributed through the body including the brain & blood
  • as blood alcohol increases a persons judgement becomes progressively impaired
  • loss of co-ordination
  • may impair the absorption of B vitamins & other nutrients

Long term health effects 

  • Ethanol may alter the shape of some proteins in the body & it ceases to recognise them- body treats cells as foreign material by producing antibodies which is an autoimmune response( cells in the body start attacking healthy cells) which leads to damaged liver tissue & hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis of liver( scarring of liver, may lose cells of the liver therefore cannot work properly)
  • "fatty liver" - metabolism of fat ceases & lipid accumulates in the liver
  • prolonged excessive consumption of alcohol even as part of a nutritionally adequate diet has various effects of liver damage - reversible fatty liver 
  •                                                   - alcoholic hepatitis ( enflamed liver - symptoms = brain dysfunction, fatigue & jaundise     
  •                                                  - irreversible cirrhosis
  • obesity
  • malnutrition due to deficiencies of mineral elements & vitamins
  • vitamin B deficiency - especially Thiamine(B1) and Folic acid is relatively common - makes it harder for digestive tract to digest/absorb B12
  • excess linked to cancer-increased risk - breast (women) , mouth & liver (both sexes)
  • both these risks are increased if accompanied with smoking
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