How Drinking Affects Health and Nutrition,Alcohol and Nutrition

How Drinking Affects Health and Nutrition

As Indians are gradually emerging out of the cocoon of an orthodox and closed society to that of a more open and liberated one, statistical data portrays that more and more people specifically the youngsters of both the sexes find drinking no more a taboo and that is alarming.
Some Facts
Alcohol comes from fermenting starches and sugars. When consumed, alcohol depresses our nervous system and acts as a mild anesthetic and tranquilizer. It is toxic in large quantities.
Alcohol has about 7 calories per gram. These are considered "empty" calories because alcohol contains no beneficial nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. A 12-ounce beer contains about 150 calories. Sugary, carbonated beverages and fruit juices contribute additional calories when mixed with alcohol in a cocktail. Beers, wines, and liquors all contain different amounts of alcohol. In general, a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor have about the same amount of alcohol and the same number of calories. Beer is 3-8% alcohol. "Light" or lower-calorie beers are closer to 3% alcohol. "Hard" liquors contain about 40% alcohol and tend to be higher in calories. White wines average 12% alcohol, and red wines average 14% alcohol.
Effects of Alcohol on Nutrient Digestion and Utilization
All of us derive nutrition from food that mainly serves two functions in the body: it supplies energy and provides the building blocks needed to replace worn out or damaged cells and the nutritional components needed for body function. Alcoholics often eat poorly, limiting their supply of essential nutrients thus affecting both energy supply and structure maintenance. Furthermore, alcohol interferes with the nutritional process by affecting digestion, storage, utilization, and excretion of nutrients.
Alcohol inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable molecules by decreasing secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas and impairs nutrient absorption by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines and by disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood.