{"id":400,"date":"2015-02-23T01:30:59","date_gmt":"2015-02-22T23:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dimakopoulosi.gr\/?p=400"},"modified":"2020-09-27T17:44:16","modified_gmt":"2020-09-27T14:44:16","slug":"alkool-eyfrainei-kardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dimakopoulosi.gr\/en\/alkool-eyfrainei-kardian\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol gladdens the heart\u2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even those who are unfamiliar with this quote, paraphrased from the original Bible quote, probably could attest to its validity<\/strong> by citing a personal experience. We drink alcohol to rejoice<\/strong>, to celebrate<\/strong> and party<\/strong>. As it touches almost everyone, it would be useful to talk about how much<\/strong> we should drink, how<\/strong> alcohol affects us, what<\/strong> problems we may face and whether there are ways to restraint its consumption.<\/p>\n

How it affects us\"Wine<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Alcohol \u201canesthetises\u201d the central nervous system. After it passes through the stomach and small intestine, some quantity is metabolised at the liver. The rest circulates in the body. The liver can only metabolise a certain quantity in given time. Hence the more we drink the greater the quantity of alcohol running through the body. The result is that its effect<\/strong> is stronger.<\/p>\n

Apart from the documented euphoria<\/strong>, balanced alcohol consumption provides benefits for your heart\u2019s health. Simultaneously increased consumption is connected heightened risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Indeed studies indicate that the quantity of alcohol we drink and more specifically the frequency in which we do, affects the risk of having cancer. The more the alcohol we drink the greater the risk. Also increased alcohol raises triglycerides, while it may lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke and to us eating more. The latter further burdens the heart (obesity, diabetes).<\/p>\n

What we should do<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The difference<\/strong> may be spotted in the quantity consumed as well as the individual<\/strong> and family<\/strong> history of health. For this reason you should consider, with an expert, the benefits and dangers that stem from its consumption.<\/p>\n

For some people, like those suffering from alcoholism or have a history of alcoholism, pregnant women or those that are trying to get pregnant, people with liver disease as well as, for those who receive medication that interacts with alcohol, etc. the benefits of alcohol consumption are less than the danger (the risk) connected with it.<\/p>\n

People<\/strong> that have a normal weight, eat healthily, do not smoke, exercise regularly and don\u2019t have family history of cardiovascular disease alcohol consumption will not offer any particular benefit. On the other hand, if you are a male<\/strong> with a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases one alcoholic drink per day could reduce that risk, especially if you have low good cholesterol (HDL) and haven\u2019t managed to raise it through diet and exercise. For a woman<\/strong> with a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases things are slightly different. You should \u201cweigh\u201d the benefit for the heart from consuming one drink a day in relation to the small increase of the risk of developing breast cancer. If you decide to drink one drink per day make sure to consume enough folic acid (at least 600mcg\/per day) since there are indications that it moderates the increased risk of developing breast cancer due to alcohol.<\/p>\n

If you are not already drinking alcohol you don\u2019t need to start. If you are drinking or have decided to start, do so in moderation and choose any drink you like. Below we\u2019ll show what a unit of alcohol <\/strong>means, how it\u2019s calculated and how much we should drink.<\/p>\n

How much we should drink\"Beer\"<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Maximum<\/strong> quantity of alcohol per day for men is 3-4 units of alcohol <\/strong>and for women 2-3.<\/p>\n

In order to determine the unit of alcohol for any drink we have to know its concentration in alcohol. The latter is written in bottles and cans as a percentage. For one litre of drink that percentage equals the units of alcohol for this drink. For example let\u2019s assume that a drink is 5% alcohol. Out of one litre of it we may have 5 units of alcohol.<\/strong> A few examples are cited below:<\/p>\n