It is not enough to know "your norm", you need to be able to correctly calculate it, without being lost in the variety of drinks, their fortress and the size of the glasses. So that people can monitor how much they drink, in 1987 in the UK introduced the concept of "unit" - a unit of alcohol. This method of accounting for alcohol was very convenient and was taken into service in other countries of the world.
One unit of alcohol is equal to 10 ml or 8 g of pure ethanol, which approximately corresponds to the volume of alcohol, which the body of an average adult can process within an hour. In theory, this means that in an hour in the blood of an adult there will almost no traces of alcohol, although individuals have the rate of alcohol elimination from the body may vary.
In accordance with the above, there are permissible alcohol standards, the excess of which is dangerous to health. This:
- no more than 3-4 units of alcohol per day for men;
- No more than 2-3 units of alcohol per day for women.
It should be noted that this refers not to the average consumption of alcohol in a few days, namely the maximum permissible amount of alcohol in one day.
At the same time, the number of strong drinks should not exceed a week:
- for women - 14 units;
- For men - 21 units.
If you drank an excessive amount of alcohol the day before, refrain from alcohol in the next 48 hours.
From units to "drin"
The number of alcohol units in the drink depends on the fortress and the volume of the drunk. So:
- A glass of wine (250 ml) of a 12% fortress contains about 3 units of alcohol;
- Bank of beer (1 l) of the fortress 5% contains about 4 units of alcohol;
- A stack of vodka (25 ml) of the fortress 40% contains about 1 unit of alcohol.
Thus, the permissible daily norm, on average, is:
- a glass of wine at dinner;
- about a half -liter of beer of an ordinary fortress;
- 2-3 small stacks of vodka.
For lovers of exotic alcoholic beverages and cocktails, the formula will be useful with which you can calculate the number of units in any volume of various drinks:
- Fortress (%) x volume (ml) ÷ 1000 = units of alcohol.
How to reduce the harm from alcohol?
Once in the body, alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, and then with a blood flow of blood spreads through the body, easily penetrating into all tissues and organs. The maximum concentration of alcohol in the blood is observed about an hour after its use, this is the time of the most strong intoxication and euphoria. Next, alcohol enters the processing.
At the first stage, a water molecule breaks away from ethanol, and vinegar aldehyde forms. This is a poison for the body, the subsequent hangover and intoxication are associated with it. At the second stage, aldehyde turns into acetic acid, which is not toxic and destroyed to carbon dioxide and water with energy. Two enzymes are controlled by alcohol splitting processes: alcohol dehydroginase (ADG) and acetaldehyddehydrogenase (ALDG). The speed of their work is an innate genetic feature.
In a person with quick adg and ALDG, alcohol in the body does not linger, and Aldehyde quickly breaks up to harmless substances. Such a man is drunk slowly and does not suffer from a strong hangover. About people with slow enzymes they say that they do not know how to drink: they quickly reach the insane state, which is replaced by a severe hangover. But the worst of all those who have fast ADG and slow ALDG. Such people do not get drunk for a long time, managing to drink more than the laid, and the rapidly formed vinegar aldehyde lingers in the body for a long time, having a damaging effect.
Accordingly, the force of intoxication and subsequent poisoning depends, by and large, only on the amount of drunk and heredity. However, there are tricks that allow you to slightly reduce the harm of alcohol. To do this, slow down the absorption of alcohol from the stomach or reduce the amount of alcohol taken "by the collar. "
- Spying alcohol (beer, champagne) cannot be mixed with strong drinks. The carbon dioxide of the "magic bubbles" accelerates the absorption of alcohol and increases its concentration in the blood, therefore the severity of the hangover.
- Hot alcohol (punch, grog) and fortified wines need to be drunk moderately for the soul. Sugar and high temperature accelerate the flow of alcohol into the blood and the formation of acetaldehyde.
- Before and during the feast, you need to eat well, especially fatty foods. In this case, the assimilation of alcohol will be slowed down and its harm is reduced to a possible minimum. Alcohol on an empty stomach can lead not only to rapid intoxication, but also to dangerous hypoglycemia.
- Stretch the time between the toasts and drink a small volume from piles and glasses to reduce the concentration of alcohol in the blood.
- Do not drink aspirin before and during a feast. Acetylsalicylic acid slows down the absorption of alcohol, but cause ulcerative damage to the stomach and increases the risk of bleeding.
- Caffeine extends the period of activity at the table, but in combination with alcohol, it can lead to the development of hypertensive crisis and heart arrhythmia.
If you often have to drink alcohol, it is useful to take a biochemical test of blood 2-3 times a year and visit the therapist. To protect the liver and brain from the effects of alcohol, a course intake of hepatoprotectors and vitamin preparations as prescribed by a doctor is recommended.
Do I need to drink "for health"?
Contrary to widespread opinion, at the moment there is no convincing evidence that moderate amounts of alcohol benefit the heart and clean the vessels. There is also no evidence that any alcoholic drink has advantages over others, in terms of influence on the cardiovascular system.
Therefore, you should not drink alcohol with a "therapeutic" goal of those who do not have such a habit. The use of small and moderate doses of alcohol is not a prevention of cardiovascular diseases.