Almost no holiday is complete without alcohol. But everything should be in moderation, a small dose of alcoholic beverages will be beneficial and will lift your mood. Some types of alcohol are safer than others. The main thing is that they do not contain methyl alcohol, as this leads to disastrous consequences.
Classification of the dangers of alcohol
Any food product containing at least 1. 5% ethyl alcohol is alcoholic. Ethanol beverages are systematized by level of C₂H₅OH, type of raw materials used, type of production and aging criteria.
From the presence of alcohol:
- low content - beer, wine;
- high - vodka, sugarcane rum, gin, grain whiskey, grape brandy, etc.
All drinks are produced from different types of raw materials.
The former can be divided into the following
- grape-based - cognac, wine, Italian grappa;
- cereals - whiskey, beer groups, vodka;
- fruits and berries - apple calvados, liqueur, liqueur;
- herbal - balsam, rum, Mexican tequila, absinthe.
Each alcoholic drink has its own ethanol content.
The presence of the latter can be divided as follows:
- high - from 67 to 96% of the volume of the container;
- normal - from 31 to 66;
- medium – from 9 to 30;
- low - from 1. 5 to 9.
The last line includes everyone's favorite beer, low-alcohol national products, kvass, palm toddy, shandy.
Beverages with medium ethanol content are represented by wines, mulled wine, punch and mead.
The upper step is occupied by vodka, Armagnac, tequila, rum, absinthe and other intoxicating liquids. Drinking ethyl alcohol comes first. The volume of alcohol reaches 95%.
It is believed that the main harm to health is caused by the degree of the drink, but the consumption of weak alcoholic products can cause harm no less than strong ones.
Characteristics of less harmful alcohol
Judgments about intoxicating liquids vary widely. Some nutritionists claim that drinking beverages is beneficial, while others claim that it is harmful to health.
The criteria for the least harmful alcohol are as follows:
- The extent of its quality.
- Amount of ethanol.
- Flavoring additives.
- Productivity.
According to medical experts, vodka is considered less harmful to health. Of course, this condition is fulfilled with minimal use.
This conclusion is due to the following factors:
- low calorie content;
- absence of a harmful carbonyl group;
- the simplicity of an alcoholic liquid - water with alcohol.
A high-quality product consumed almost never causes a hangover. But this does not mean that you can drink vodka without measure. To prevent poisoning, breakfast should be fatty food.
However, experts rank real grape wines as the least safe alcohol for the liver. The fruits of the bush have no harmful residues. If you do not separate the skins from the fruit, you get a red variety of wine recognized as the healthiest.
This is due to the fact that the vitamins contained in the shell pass into a liquid alcoholic medium, saturating the body with trace elements and organic nitrogen compounds.
Antioxidants improve the work of the circulatory system and rejuvenate cells. Wine is successfully used to extract an extract from it, which is used to make injections and various cosmetics.
Negative effects on the human body
The negative impact of alcoholic beverages is manifested in the following:
Organs exposed to alcohol and diseases that can occur under the influence of alcoholic beverages
- Intoxication disrupts the flow of oxygen to the brain, which leads to the death of brain cells. Encephalopathy develops, the changes are irreversible.
- The cardiovascular system is affected. Pathologies develop: ischemic and hypertensive, cardiomyopathy. In some people, alcohol addiction leads to an enlarged heart.
- The respiratory rate increases, tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis develop.
- The functions of the digestive system are impaired, as the mucous membrane absorbs the effect of the poison. The patients were diagnosed with gastritis and peptic ulcer. Alcohol destroys the liver, causes cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatosis.
- Disturbances in excretory function occur. Alcohol is harmful to the kidneys, because under the influence of alcohol, their epithelium is destroyed.
- Endocrine glands are affected. Almost half of people suffering from alcoholism have reduced sexual function. Against this background, neuroses, depression and other disorders of the central nervous system occur. In women, the menstrual cycle is disturbed, menopause occurs prematurely, gestosis and spontaneous abortions are possible during pregnancy.
- The skin and muscle tissue are exhausted, various dermatological diseases appear.
- Hematopoietic processes are disturbed, the production of lymphocytes decreases and allergic reactions occur.
- Psychic abnormalities occur: convulsions, hallucinations, partial loss of sensitivity in the limbs.
The most severe form of intoxication is delirium tremens.Even timely treatment may not bring results. The patient ceases to orient himself in time and space, his heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and in some cases, the temperature.
Regular alcohol consumption reduces life expectancy, leads to premature aging and disability.
Does the damage depend on the degree of alcohol?
The alcohol content determines the time it takes for the alcohol to be removed from the body. The lower this indicator is, the less the drink will harm a person.
For this reason, products with a high ethanol content are considered the most dangerous.
How to choose the least harmful alcohol
The choice of the least dangerous alcoholic drink should be based on criteria that determine the level of harmful effects on the human body. These criteria include:
- quality (manufacturer, compliance with established safety requirements, conditions of bottling, transportation and storage);
- strength (the amount of ethyl alcohol in the composition);
- presence of aromatic additives and their assortment;
- the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood.
A properly selected alcoholic drink will cause minimal harm to the body and prevent the development of severe pathologies and hangover syndrome.
How harmful are low-quality raw materials?
The main toxic effect on the human body is acetaldehyde (a product of the breakdown of ethyl alcohol). This substance is present in all alcoholic beverages and is harmful to health.Expensive products made from higher quality raw materials are considered the least harmful.The low price is due to the insufficient purification of the composition of civet oils.
Even home-made wines and moonshine made from purified water and quality products are more harmful than store-bought. It is impossible to properly purify raw materials without the necessary equipment and technology. When choosing alcohol, you should give preference to drinks that do not contain synthetic ingredients.
What is the difference between expensive and cheap alcohol?
There is an opinion that the harm from alcohol is the same, regardless of the quality and price of the drink. But there is a difference between cheap, low-quality alcohol and an expensive "elite" product.
The low price indicates that cheap, low-quality raw materials were used in the production. This affects the composition of the alcoholic drink and also worsens the consequences of its use.
Manufacturers who comply with safety standards and care about the quality of the finished product use more expensive raw materials and complex cleaning processes. This certainly affects the price in the direction of its increase.
The Spirit World
To find out which alcoholic drink is the most harmless, you need to learn about the types of alcohol. The most common gradation is the classification of alcohol by strength:
| Classification | Scroll |
strong alcohol |
brandy, whiskey, ethyl (medicinal) alcohol, sambuca, rum, vodka, absinthe, tequila, gin, cognac |
| medium strength drinks | vermouth, wines of all kinds, liqueurs, cider, martinis, punch, grog |
| low alcohol (and carbonated) | ale, beer products, sparkling wines and champagne |
Many ordinary people talk about the harm of alcohol based on its degree. And they believe that the weaker the alcohol, the safer it is.Based on this reasoning, we can say that the most harmless alcohol is beer or champagne. This is a big mistake.
The harmfulness of alcohol does not depend on its degree. Even weak alcoholic drinks can provoke the development of alcoholism in a person.
A few years ago, Canadian scientists conducted a series of experiments that showed that most people do not suffer from strong alcohol. In the majority of cases, alcohol addiction is caused by light alcohol that is drunk in large quantities and constantly. This caused rapid addiction and subsequent health problems.
Alcohol is destructive to all internal systems and organs
So what is this, the safest alcohol, where to look for alcohol that you can drink calmly, without considering upcoming health problems? We can immediately say: there is no absolutely safe alcohol, any drink that contains ethyl alcohol is a priori classified as dangerous and destructive. But there is a list compiled by scientists that lists alcoholic beverages in order of the harm they cause. Check out this ranking.
1st place: alcoholic energy drinks
In the spring of 2017, the world became familiar with the data of a long-term study organized and conducted by Canadian scientists. According to their research, the biggest danger for people is mixing ethanol with various energy drinks or ready-made alcoholic canned energy cocktails. In addition to the well-known harm of alcohol, these drinks bring their fans the following:
- Attacks of aggressive behavior.
- Suicide attempts, most of which were successful.
- Increased injury rate. Fans of alcoholic energy drinks were more likely to be involved in traffic accidents than fans of "cleaner" alcohol.
Alcoholic energy drinks are considered the most dangerous drinks for health.
Scientists have found an explanation for this. Caffeine, which is necessarily included in the composition of such alcohol, has a relaxing effect on the body and suppresses the sedative effect of ethanol. As a result, a person in an intoxicated state not only does not understand the very fact of intoxication, but also does not give an account of his own actions, considering them completely adequate.
Constant consumption of alcoholic energy drinks is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness and memory problems. Sometimes a person who has committed a crime due to intoxication with this product, after sobering up, is unable to remember what he did and where he was. Alcoholic energy drinks rightfully occupy an honorable first place in the ranking of the most dangerous alcoholic products.
2nd place: alcoholic cocktails
There is a huge army of fans of various delicious cocktails prepared with alcohol. They drink them regularly at parties, cafes and clubs. It is very difficult to convince them of the dangers of such a hobby. Can light and such aromatic cocktails be harmful? But in fact, they occupy the second position in the ranking of the most dangerous alcohol.
The harm from alcoholic cocktails lies in their composition
The question is in their composition. In fact, in addition to alcohol, ingredients include sodas, sweetened water, liqueurs, syrups and juices. These components, when mixed with each other, create a dangerous mixture that:
- immediately absorbed into the blood;
- provokes severe intoxication;
- increase in the concentration of sugar in the body;
- leads to a severe hangover;
- significantly increase the load on almost all internal organs.
All body systems begin to work in emergency mode: the liver neutralizes ethanol while actively absorbing glucose. The kidneys try to quickly remove toxic toxins from the body, and the work of the pancreas is activated. And the heart increases its rhythm, trying to ensure normal blood flow to actively working organs.
Even a small glass of alcoholic cocktail carries a triple load on the body. The more such drinks a person drinks, the stronger his hangover syndrome will be.
3rd place: champagne and sparkling wines
Produced with careful observance of the technological process, high-quality champagne will not cause much harm to the body if you drink it in the volume of a glass. But the passion for this drink will turn him into a terrible monster. The explanation is as follows:
- Fine champagne contains a large amount of sugar. It has an extremely negative effect on the functioning and condition of the liver and pancreas.
- Once in the gastrointestinal tract, this drink leads to the development of rapid processes of putrefaction, including the remains of undigested food. Champagne owes these processes to the carbon dioxide it contains.
Good champagne will do no harm if you drink no more than one glass.
Large amounts of this pleasant and light alcohol can cause severe poisoning in a person. Sparkling wines work the same way. A mixture of ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide can knock down even a strong and large man in a short time.
4th place: beer
An extremely popular drink enjoyed by both men and women in equal measure.But in the meantime, this aromatic foam is very dangerous due to rapid addiction and the development of beer alcoholism. Dangerously frothy and high in phytoestrogens, which hop cones are rich in.
Phytoestrogens contained in beer are plant analogues of female sex hormones. These compounds are extremely dangerous for both sexes. They contribute to a serious disruption of the hormonal system.
Unfortunately, narcologists now diagnose beer alcoholism much more often than the addiction caused by strong drinks. Unfortunately, without realizing the dangers of beer, people become addicted to it from adolescence, destroying their own health. It is much more difficult to get rid of beer alcoholism than other types of addictions.
Regular consumption of beer leads to rapid development of beer alcoholism
Long-term and constant addiction to intoxicating drinks leads to the following disorders:
- "live" beer, considered the "purest", has a high calorie content and quickly causes obesity;
- inhibits the production of natural sex hormones, which has a negative impact on the functioning of the reproductive system;
- provokes global changes in the thickness and structure of the myocardium (heart muscle), which provokes the development of numerous heart pathologies.
Moreover, the harmful effect does not depend on the brand or brand of beer. This drink is dangerous in any case, regardless of the variety and production process. There is no safe beer in nature.
5th place: cognac
According to scientists, the most harmless is the purest alcoholic drink, that is, without unnecessary additives. It is easier for the body to deal with such alcohol, which lacks other components, since less effort is spent on neutralizing aggressive components. Cognac is the least harmful alcohol. It can also bring some benefits:
- Stabilizes high blood pressure;
- Stops the pathogenic activity of viruses.
Cognac has the ability to stabilize blood pressure, but only in moderate and infrequent consumption
But a good cognac can be distinguished by such talents, provided it is consumed minimally and rarely. It is believed that the safe dose of this strong alcohol does not exceed 50 g.
6th place: liqueurs
This alcohol is much safer than a number of low alcohol alcohols. Liqueurs do not contain carbon dioxide and are traditionally consumed in small doses.Their only significant drawback is the high sugar content.. It is for this reason that aromatic and tasty liqueurs should not be consumed by people suffering from diabetes and prone to rapid weight gain.
The disadvantages of liqueurs include a large amount of sugar in the composition.
7th place: guilt
With moderate, competent consumption of red and rosé wines, they can even be considered medicinal. But such a statement is valid only in relation to natural wine alcohol obtained by fermentation of grapes. It is true that in some people prone to allergic manifestations, red wine can provoke allergic attacks.
Women are advised to drink good red wine (in strictly limited quantities), as this alcohol is rich in antioxidants that prevent aging of the body.
Wine can only be beneficial if consumed wisely
By the way, when considering which alcohol is less harmful to the liver, doctors choose good, natural wine. The grape juice is fully fermented. When the seeds and the remains of the skin remain in it, the result is red wine, which becomes the basis for winemaking.
These wines have the least destructive power for the liver. They are also the most useful for the body, since all the most valuable substances from the peel and fruit seeds are transferred to the composition of the wine.
8th place: vodka
According to the unanimous opinion of doctors, vodka, our legendary drink, which is already considered a national treasure, is the safest.But also insidious, because we can talk about benefits only if the quality of alcohol is high and its consumption is minimal..
Vodka is considered the safest of all types of alcohol, but its regular consumption leads to the development of alcoholism
Doctors, speaking about the safety of vodka, explain their words with the following qualities of this strong alcohol:
- minimum amount of calories;
- complete lack of carbohydrates;
- purity of ingredients, vodka consists of a mixture of water and alcohol.
By the way, high-quality vodka almost never leads to a severe hangover. But that doesn't mean you can drink it without a snack. Good and fatty food is a mandatory addition to this alcohol.
Consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages
The consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages are divided into short-term, which appear within a few hours after drinking, and long-term, which are felt after a long period of systemic drinking.
The main short-term consequence is a state of intoxication, which is accompanied by changes in metabolic processes, disorders in the functioning of the brain, vestibular apparatus and stress on all body systems.
Symptoms of alcohol intoxication vary depending on the concentration of ethanol in the blood, including:
- Confusion of speech and consciousness;
- reduced hearing and vision, hallucinations;
- sticking of red blood cells and as a result anemia;
- drowsiness;
- vomiting, diarrhea, nausea;
- headache, tinnitus;
- difficulties in natural physiological processes (breathing, urination, etc. );
- memory loss;
- attacks of aggression, euphoria, sudden changes in mood.
While intoxicated, people are more likely to suffer domestic injuries, be involved in traffic accidents, and be involved in sexual assault or other forms of physical aggression.
In the long term, people who systematically drink alcoholic beverages develop a stable dependence. This negatively affects both human health and the social and domestic conditions of his life.
Alcoholics face various physiological problems, but most often with:
- pathologies of internal organs, chronic intoxication of the body;
- spinal cord injuries, atrophic heart diseases, strokes;
- throat, stomach, liver and colon cancer;
- hormonal disorders;
- erectile dysfunction, infertility, early menopause, etc. ;
- lack of B vitamins, calcium and zinc.
These problems are a consequence of the behavioral characteristics of an alcoholic who tends to lead an antisocial lifestyle.
Social issues such as:
- crisis in relations with family, friends, colleagues;
- difficulties in finding employment and work;
- tendency to violence, aggressive behavior;
- the formation of mental pathologies, among which there are severe psychoses, personality disorders and manic states.
Impact speed
According to the speed of impact, all alcoholic beverages can be divided into two types:
| "quick" | These include strong alcohol (400 and above), such as vodka, tequila, absinthe, etc. |
| "slow" | Low-alcohol cocktails, champagne, beer and wine are slow-acting. |
Despite the fact that intoxication from vodka occurs faster than from beer, the harm to health can be the same. Often, a person who prefers low-alcohol drinks is not aware of the amount he drinks.
He cannot stop in time until the amount of ethanol in the body already exceeds the safe limit. The consequence of such irrational behavior is severe intoxication and a severe hangover.
Drinking alcohol should be accompanied by a hearty breakfast - this significantly reduces the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood and also protects the gastrointestinal tract from the harmful effects of alcohol.
Conclusion
The ethyl alcohol in any alcoholic beverage is poisonous. However, the liver is able to process small amounts of ethanol, thereby completely removing it from the body and protecting vital organs, functions and systems.
Scientists have calculated safe daily doses of different types of alcoholic beverages. These indicators are valid for adults who drink rarely and do not have chronic diseases.
Any amounts of alcohol are strictly prohibited:
- persons under 18 years of age;
- pregnant and lactating women, as well as couples planning pregnancy.
Among the variety of types of alcohol, vodka is considered the safest, and energy shakes are the least safe.
Non-alcoholic beer prepared in accordance with the brewing technology also contains a small amount of ethanol (from 0. 5%), which is why it cannot be considered safe for health and requires restrictions on the volume of consumption.