Things You Need To Know

Use of alcohol is widely accepted in the United States, even though alcoholism is a major public health problem.  Alcohol has been called “America’s legal drug of choice.” 

As we all know, alcohol can have a disastrous impact on health, job performance, and family life.  Alcohol is the primary cause of liver disease, a condition with devastating nutritional consequences.  Alcohol is related to half of all traffic fatalities and half of all homicides in the United States.  And individuals with drinking problems have higher rates of divorces and suicide than that of the general population. 

Alcohol exerts a direct toxic effect on the brain, heart, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and especially the liver.  The effects of alcohol on the liver can lead to the development of fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and fibrosis, and cirrhosis.  Because the liver processes everything we eat, liver damage profoundly affects nutrition.  Tissue damage disrupts the normal storage of vitamins and minerals, and the synthesis of protein and glucose.  And at the same time, it causes fat to accumulate in the liver. 

Alcohol also causes the loss of calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  And it impairs the body’s overall ability to absorb many of the B vitamins, leading to anemia and problems with the central nervous system.  In short, heavy or prolonged alcohol intake clearly produces nutritional and medical havoc. 

Long term heavy drinking can increase the risks for high blood pressure, heart disease, some kinds of stroke, and of certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and voice box.  Women can be at a slightly greater risk of developing breast cancer if they drink two or more drinks per day.  Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum. 

But what is the effect of moderate alcohol consumption, say, one or two drinks (3 ounces) a day?  While the question has not been adequately explored, certain things are beginning to become clear. 

The most obvious effect of alcohol is the addition of excess calories, which can contribute to being overweight.  At seven calories per gram, alcohol adds about three calories per gram more than protein or carbohydrate.  The caloric content of alcoholic beverages varies considerably.  Here’s a few comparisons:  Four ounces of table wine has 100 calories; sherry or port – 200; twelve ounces of beer – 169; and one and one half ounces of gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey – 110 calories.

The addition of a mixer other than water or soda drives the calories even higher.  Juices add from 25 calories for four ounces of tomato juice to 80 calories in four ounces of cranberry juice.  Soft drinks range from 30 calories for four ounces of ginger ale to 50 for four ounces of cola. 

And these liquid calories add up all too quickly.  Over the course of a year, two cans of beer a day in excess of your normal caloric needs could result in a 33-pound weight gain.  A daily glass of wine along with dinner could add 10 pounds a year.

Even in our weight conscious society, anyone who is tempted to substitute alcoholic beverages for food should think twice.  Two cocktails and two slices of pizza may have the same number of calories but their nutritional content is vastly different.  The cocktails contribute little except calories, while the pizza supplies protein, vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium, and other essential minerals, in addition to calories. 

It displaces important nutrients and has transient effects on the liver. 

True, moderate alcohol intake has been shown to guard against coronary heart disease.  However, regular aerobic exercise can do the same thing without the potentially harmful effects of alcohol. 

We’re not advocating a return of Prohibition, but we are advising caution where alcohol is concerned.  Especially if you are pregnant or have liver disease, please don’t drink.  Instead, join the millions of other people who have discovered just how refreshing a glass of mineral water with a twist of lemon or lime really can be.   

Revised 10/00 

Source:  US Dept of Health and Human Services