Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, January 5 - Questions about what constitutes moderate drinking and how much alcohol is too much continue to be the focus of research, which suggests that there is no truly "safe" level of consumption, according to an analysis published in National Geographic.
Drinking alcohol is linked to more than 200 health conditions, can accelerate aging, and can also lead to chronic health problems as consumption increases, according to scientific findings cited in this article.
For some people who have a mutation in a gene that processes acetaldehyde, the risk of developing alcohol-related health problems is even greater, as their bodies take longer to process it, notes Iona Millwood, an epidemiologist at Oxford University.
According to the analysis, the moment alcohol enters the bloodstream, the liver begins to break it down, and in doing so, it produces acetaldehyde, a highly reactive compound and known carcinogen responsible for much of the damage caused by drinking.
In this regard, Patricia Molina, a physiology researcher at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, points out that, despite what we might wish, no study has ever demonstrated that alcohol has a protective or beneficial effect.
According to this article, current studies show that health risks increase considerably with even just a few drinks a week, and reducing consumption, even slightly, can make a noticeable difference.
Furthermore, while no amount of alcohol is entirely risk-free, there are consumption levels that cause less harm, and reducing it, even slightly, can make a significant difference, the analysis states.
On the other hand, according to the Mayo Clinic, research on alcohol suggests a serious conclusion: drinking any amount of alcohol is a health risk.
Although the risk is low in cases of moderate consumption, it increases as the amount consumed grows.
Many people drink alcohol as a personal preference, during social activities, or as part of cultural or religious practices, and those who choose not to drink do so for the same reasons.
Knowing your personal risk based on your habits can help you make the best decision for yourself, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Regarding responsible drinking, the MedlinePlus website points out that if you drink alcohol, it's best to do so in moderation, which means that drinking is not the same as getting intoxicated.
It also recommends that you consume no more than one drink per day if you are a woman and no more than two if you are a man, defining one drink as 12 ounces (oz) or 350 mL of beer, five ounces (150 mL) of wine, or 1.5 oz (45 mL) of hard liquor.
There are ways to drink responsibly, provided the person doesn't have a drinking problem, is of legal drinking age, and isn't pregnant or taking medication, among other limitations, the source states. (Source: ACN)
