Health: Good and Bad Effects of Alcohol

Pros and cons of drinking alcohol:

CONS - They’re obvious.
* Alcohol poisoning.
* Alcohol impairs judgment.
* Drunk driving
* Alcoholism and alcohol don’t mix.

PROS
* One glass of red wine a day has been proven to have some healthy heart related benefits.
* Alcohol relaxes. Having a drink can cut stress — a health problem in itself.
* Alcohol is a nice alternative to coffee for a date.
* Alcohol is celebratory the same way birthday cake is. There is a psychological boost to opening a bottle of champagne after a win at work, in your personal life or at an anniversary.

Women have a tendency to be more influenced by alcohol because they usually weigh less than men, so one drink has more impact on a woman’s body than a man’s.

HOWEVER…not everyone has the same tolerance to alcohol, so even women who have six drinks and have a high tolerance to alcohol, may not behave as intoxicated as men who have three drinks and have less of a tolerance, weight aside.

Parties, social get togethers and festivities usually involve alcoholic drinks. Here are some tips to bring the sober back!

1. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Not even one drink.

2. If you’re getting a drink from a bartender, ask him to go heavy on the juice, the soda or the water in the drink. A wine spritzer or a cosmo, heavy on the juice, will pack less punch than a neat drink.

3. Ice will dilute your drink. On the rocks is a better choice that straight up.

4. If you’re having more than a drink or two, intersperse each alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink. For instance, have one cocktail, and then have a bottle of water (drink the whole thing) before you have your next cocktail. The water will dilute the alcohol and promote urinating, which will also dilute the alcohol content in your body.

5. Just because it’s a celebration doesn’t mean you have to have an alcoholic drink. Many times alcohol is associated with celebration, but you don’t have to keep that pattern going. You can have something else you really love — like root beer or a milkshake.

6. If you’re taking medication — no matter what kind (prescription, non-prescription or even herbal supplements from the health food store), don’t drink or go easy on the alcohol, but best of all, call your pharmacist and/or physician and ask about interactions between your meds and alcohol.