Respond to both students with 200 words and also include a question in response.
What is alcohol? Alcohol is also known as ethanol. Alcohol is not a nutrient. Common sources of alcohol are beer, wine, hard liquor ( whiskey, vodka, rum), tuba, fermented yeast. Excessive alcohol consumption is a negative effect. Alcohol poisoning reduces heart rate, breathing, gag reflex. Excessive alcohol consumption results in alcoholism. Alcohol may replace more nutrient dense foods. Malnutrition alters digestion and absorption. Vitamin B deficiency is common is alcoholism. Alcohol effects the brain. The effects of alcohol on the brain includes inhibition, impairs judgement, and reasoning ability relaxation, impairs voluntary muscle control, respiration, temperature, heart rate and vital functions fail. Alcohol can damage the liver. Damaging the liver results in hepatitis and cirrhosis and accumulation of fibrous tissue. The positive effect of alcohol is that it may raise HDL cholesterol, lowers blood pressure in some people, increases relaxation, may reduce risk of some chronic diseases if consumed in moderation. Moderation considers no more than one drink for women and two drinks for men. The main cause of a hangover is the effect of ethanol- the alcohol in your drinks. It’s a toxic chemical that works in the body as a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more, and you can become dehydrated as a result. Healthcare professionals advise pregnant women not to drink alcohol because the baby’s brain is developing throughout pregnancy and can be affected by exposure to alcohol at any time. It will cause growth and central nervous system problems. There is no safe time for alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol can cause problems for the baby throughout pregnancy, including before a woman knows she is pregnant. Alcohol use in the first three months of pregnancy can cause the baby to have abnormal facial features. I use to hear that wine was okay to drink while pregnant but it seems like its not.
Like most things, alcohol can have both beneficial or negative consequences and is best when consumed in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one drink a day for woman and two drink a day for men. Moderate alcohol consumption can decrease risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. While researching for my post, I came across a lot more negative impacts of alcohol consumption than positive ones. For instance, there is an increased risk of various types of cancer associated with moderate levels of alcohol consumption. But, the most significant negative outcomes are associated with heavy or binge drinking. There are no health benefits when it comes to heavy alcohol consumption, but there is a whole list of negative impacts. Some of the negative effects include: pancreatitis, high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease, and much more.
Hangovers are thought to be a result of excess acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a byproduct created when the enzymes in our body are attempting to metabolize alcohol that has been consumed. There is no way to “cure” a hangover, but you can manage the symptoms. For example, taking medication for a headache.
Healthcare professionals advise against alcoholic consumption for woman who are pregnant because consuming alcohol while pregnant can affect the development of the baby and cause serious complications such as increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. There is no known amount of alcohol exposure that is considered safe during pregnancy. Any type or amount could be considered dangerous and it is best if a baby is not exposed to any alcohol before birth.
