Which alcohol is safest for the body?

Almost no holiday is complete without alcohol. But everything should be in moderation; a small dose of alcoholic beverages will be beneficial and lift your spirits. Some types of alcohol are safer than others. The main thing is that they do not contain methyl alcohol, as it leads to disastrous consequences.

Classification of the dangers of alcohol

Any food product containing at least 1. 5% ethyl alcohol is alcoholic. Ethanol-based drinks are systematized based on the level of C₂H₅OH, the type of raw material used, the type of production and the aging criteria.

From the presence of alcohol:

• low content: beer, wine;
• high: vodka, sugar cane rum, gin, grain whiskey, grape brandy and more.

All drinks are produced from various types of raw materials.

The former can be divided into the following

• based on grapes - cognac, wine, Italian grappa;
• cereals – whiskey, beer groups, vodka;
• fruits and berries – Calvados apple, liqueur, liqueur;
• herbal: balm, rum, Mexican tequila, absinthe.

Each alcoholic beverage product has its own ethanol content.

The presence of the latter can be divided as follows:

• high – from 67 to 96% of the container volume;
• normal – from 31 to 66;
• medium – from 9 to 30;
• low – from 1, 5 to 9.

The last line includes everyone's favorite beer, domestic low-alcohol products, kvass, palm toddy, shandy.

Beverages with an average ethanol content are represented by wines, mulled wine, punch and mead.

The top rung is occupied by vodka, Armagnac, tequila, rum, absinthe and other intoxicating liquids. The consumption of ethyl alcohol is in first position. The alcohol by volume reaches 95%.

It is believed that the main harm to health is caused by the degree of the drink, however, the consumption of weak alcohol-containing products can cause no less harm than strong ones.

Characteristics of alcohol less harmful

Opinions on intoxicating liquids vary greatly. Some nutritionists claim that drinking beverages is good for you, while others say it is harmful to your health.

The criteria for the least harmful alcohol are as follows:

1. The degree of its quality.
2. Amount of ethanol.
3. Additions of flavors.
4. Performance.

According to medical experts, vodka is considered less harmful to health. Of course, this condition is met with minimal use.

This conclusion is due to the following factors:

• low amount of calories contained;
• absence of the harmful carbonyl group;
• the simplicity of an alcoholic liquid: water with alcohol.

A consumed high-quality product almost never causes a hangover. But this does not mean that you can drink vodka without measure. To prevent poisoning, the snack should consist of fatty foods.

However, experts define genuine grape wines as the least safe alcohol for the liver. The fruits of the shrub do not have harmful residues. If the skins are not separated from the grapes, a variety of red wine is obtained, recognized as the healthiest.

This is due to the fact that the vitamins contained in the shell pass into the liquid alcoholic environment, saturating the body with microelements and nitrogenous organic compounds.

Antioxidants improve the functioning of the circulatory system and rejuvenate cells. Wine is successfully used to extract an extract from it, which is used to make injections and various cosmetics.

Negative effects on the human body

The negative impact of alcoholic beverages is manifested as follows:

Organs exposed to alcohol and diseases that can occur under the influence of alcoholic beverages

1. Intoxication cuts off the flow of oxygen to the brain, causing brain cells to die. Encephalopathy develops, changes are irreversible.
2. The cardiovascular system is affected. Pathologies develop: ischemia and hypertension, cardiomyopathy. In some people, alcohol addiction causes the heart to enlarge.
3. The respiratory rate increases, tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis develop.
4. The functions of the digestive system are disrupted, because the mucous membrane takes on the effect of the poison. Patients are diagnosed with gastritis and peptic ulcers. Alcohol destroys the liver, causes cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatosis.
5. Disturbances in excretory function occur. Alcohol is harmful to the kidneys, because under the influence of alcohol their epithelium is destroyed.
6. The endocrine glands are affected. Nearly half of people suffering from alcoholism have impaired sexual function. In this context, neurosis, depression and other disorders of the central nervous system arise. In women, the menstrual cycle is interrupted, menopause occurs prematurely, and pregnancies and miscarriages are possible during pregnancy.
7. The skin and muscle tissue are depleted and various dermatological diseases appear.
8. Hematopoietic processes are disrupted, lymphocyte production decreases, and allergic reactions appear.
9. Mental abnormalities occur: convulsions, hallucinations, partial loss of sensation in the limbs.

The most serious form of intoxication is delirium tremens.Even timely treatment may not bring results. The patient stops orienting himself in time and space, his pulse accelerates, his blood pressure increases and in some cases his temperature rises.

Regular alcohol consumption reduces life expectancy, leads to premature aging and disability.

Does the damage depend on the level of alcohol?

Alcohol content determines how quickly alcohol is removed from the body. The lower this indicator, the less harm the drink will bring to a person.

For this reason, products with a high ethanol content are considered the most dangerous.

How to choose the least harmful alcohol

The choice of the least dangerous alcoholic beverage should be based on criteria that determine the level of harmful effects on the human body. These criteria include:

• quality (producer, compliance with established safety requirements, bottling, transportation and storage conditions);
• strength (the amount of ethyl alcohol in the composition);
• availability of flavoring additives and their range;
• the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood.

A properly selected alcoholic drink will cause minimal harm to the body and prevent the development of serious pathologies and hangover syndrome.

How harmful are low-quality raw materials?

The main toxic effect on the human body is acetaldehyde (a degradation product of ethyl alcohol). This substance is present in all alcoholic drinks and is harmful to health.Expensive products made from higher quality raw materials are considered the least harmful.The low cost is due to insufficient purification of the composition from fuselage oils.

Even homemade wines and moonshine, prepared with purified water and quality products, are more harmful than store-bought counterparts. It is impossible to adequately purify raw materials without the necessary equipment and technology. When choosing alcohol, preference should be given to drinks that do not contain synthetic ingredients.

What is the difference between expensive and cheap alcohol

It is believed that the harm of alcohol is the same, regardless of the quality and cost of the drink. But there is a difference between cheap low-quality alcohol and an expensive "elite" product.

A low price indicates that cheap, low-quality raw materials were used in production. This affects the composition of the alcohol-containing drink and also aggravates the consequences of its use.

Manufacturers who comply with safety standards and care about the quality of the finished product use more expensive raw materials and complex cleaning processes. This certainly affects the price in the direction of its increase.

World of spirits

To find out which alcoholic drink is the most harmless, you should know the types of alcohol. The most common gradation is the classification of alcohol by strength:

Classification	Slide
strong alcohol	brandy, whisky, ethyl alcohol (medicinal), sambuca, rum, vodka, absinthe, tequila, gin, cognac
medium intensity drinks	vermouth, wines of all kinds, liqueurs, cider, martinis, punch, grog
low alcohol (and carbonated)	beer, beer-based products, sparkling wines and champagne

Many ordinary people talk about the harm caused by alcohol based on their degree. And they believe that the weaker the alcohol, the safer it is.Based on this reasoning we can say that the most harmless alcohols are beer or champagne. This is a big mistake.

The harmfulness of alcohol does not depend on its degree. Even weak alcoholic drinks can provoke the development of alcoholism in a person.

Several years ago, Canadian scientists conducted a series of experiments that showed that most people do not suffer from strong alcohol. In the vast majority of cases, alcohol dependence was caused by light alcohol, drunk in large quantities and constantly. This caused rapid addiction and subsequent health problems.

Alcohol is destructive to all internal systems and organs

So what is the safest alcohol, where to look for alcohol to drink calmly, regardless of upcoming health problems? We can say right away: there is no absolutely safe alcohol, any drink containing ethyl alcohol is classified a priori as dangerous and destructive. But there is a list compiled by scientists that lists alcoholic drinks in order of the harm they cause. Check out this rating.

1st place: alcoholic energy drinks

In the spring of 2017, the world became aware of data from a long-term study organized and conducted by Canadian scientists. According to their research, the greatest danger for people is a mixture of ethanol with various energy drinks or ready-made canned alcoholic energy cocktails. In addition to the well-known harms of alcohol, these drinks bring the following to their fans:

1. Attacks of aggressive behavior.
2. Suicide attempts, most of which were successful.
3. Increased injury rate. Fans of alcoholic energy cocktails were more likely to be involved in road accidents than fans of "purer" alcohol.

Alcoholic energy drinks are considered the most dangerous drinks for your health.

Scientists have found an explanation for this. Caffeine, which is necessarily included in the composition of such alcohol, has a relaxing effect on the body and suppresses the sedative effect of ethanol. As a result, an intoxicated person not only does not understand the very fact of intoxication, but does not account for his actions, considering them completely adequate.

Constant consumption of alcoholic energy drinks is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness and memory problems. Sometimes a person who has committed a crime due to intoxication with this product, having sobered up, is not able to remember what he did and where he was. Alcoholic energy drinks rightfully occupy an honorable first place in the ranking of the most dangerous alcoholic products.

2nd place: alcoholic cocktails

There is a huge army of fans of various delicious cocktails prepared with alcohol. They drink them regularly at parties, bars and clubs. It is very difficult to convince them of the dangers of such a hobby. Can light and aromatic cocktails be harmful? But in reality they occupy the second position in the ranking of the most dangerous alcohol.

The harm of alcoholic cocktails lies in their composition

The point is in their composition. In addition to alcohol, in fact, the ingredients include carbonated drinks, sweetened water, liqueurs, syrups and juices. These components, if mixed together, create a dangerous mixture which:

• immediately absorbed into the blood;
• causes serious intoxication;
• increase the concentration of sugar in the body;
• leads to severe hangovers;
• significantly increase the load on almost all internal organs.

All systems of the body begin to work in emergency mode: the liver neutralizes ethanol, simultaneously actively absorbing glucose. The kidneys try to quickly remove toxic toxins from the body, and the work of the pancreas is activated. And the heart increases its pace, trying to ensure normal blood flow to actively working organs.

Even a small glass of alcoholic cocktail triples the load on the body. The more a person drinks such drinks, the stronger his hangover syndrome will manifest itself.

3rd place: champagne and sparkling wines

Produced with careful adherence to the technological process, high-quality champagne will not cause much harm to the body if you drink it in the volume of one glass. But his passion for this drink will transform him into a terrible monster. The explanation is as follows:

1. Fine champagne contains a large amount of sugar. It has an extremely negative effect on the functioning and condition of the liver and pancreas.
2. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, this drink leads to the development of rapid decomposition processes, involving the remains of undigested food. Champagne owes these processes to the carbon dioxide it contains.

Good champagne won't hurt if you don't drink more than one glass.

Large quantities of this pleasant, light alcohol can cause serious poisoning in a person. Sparkling wines work the same way. A mixture of ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide can knock down even a strong, large man in a short time.

4th place: beer

An extremely popular drink, enjoyed by both men and women equally.But meanwhile, this fragrant foam is very dangerous due to the rapid addiction and development of beer alcoholism. Dangerously frothy and with a large dose of phytoestrogens, which hop cones are rich in.

The phytoestrogens contained in beer are plant analogues of female sex hormones. These compounds are extremely dangerous for both sexes. They contribute to serious disorders of the hormonal system.

Unfortunately, narcologists now diagnose beer alcoholism much more often than addiction caused by strong drinks. Unfortunately, unaware of the dangers of beer, people begin to become addicted to it as early as adolescence, ruining their health. It is much more difficult to get rid of beer alcoholism than other types of addiction.

Regular consumption of beer leads to the rapid development of beer alcoholism

Prolonged and constant dependence on intoxicating drinks leads to the following disorders:

• "live" beer, considered the "cleanest", has a high calorie content and quickly causes obesity;
• inhibits the production of natural sex hormones, which have a negative impact on the functioning of the reproductive system;
• causes global changes in the thickness and structure of the myocardium (cardiac muscle), this causes the development of numerous cardiac pathologies.

Furthermore, the harmful effect does not depend on the brand or brand of beer. This drink is still dangerous, regardless of the variety and production process. There is no safe beer in nature.

5th place: cognac

According to scientists, the most harmless is the purest alcoholic drink, that is, without unnecessary additives. It is easier for the body to cope with such alcohol, which lacks other components, because less effort is spent on neutralizing aggressive components. Cognac is the least harmful alcohol. Furthermore, it can also bring some advantages:

• Stabilizes high blood pressure;
• Stops the pathogenic activity of viruses.

Cognac has the ability to stabilize blood pressure, but only with moderate and infrequent consumption

But a good cognac can be distinguished by such talents, provided that it is consumed minimally and rarely. It is believed that the safe dose of this strong alcohol does not exceed 50 g.

6th place: liqueurs

This alcohol is much safer than a number of low-alcohol alcohols. Liqueurs do not contain carbon dioxide and are traditionally consumed in small doses.Their only significant drawback is the high sugar content.. It is for this reason that aromatic and tasty liqueurs should not be consumed by people who suffer from diabetes and are prone to rapid weight gain.

The disadvantages of liqueurs include a large amount of sugar in the composition.

7th place: wines

With moderate and competent consumption of red and rosé wines, they can even be considered medicinal. But this statement is valid only in relation to the natural alcohol in wine produced by the fermentation of grapes. True, in some people predisposed to allergic manifestations, red wine can provoke allergic attacks.

Women are advised to drink good red wine (in strictly limited quantities), as this alcohol is rich in antioxidants that prevent aging of the body.

Wine can only be beneficial if consumed wisely

By the way, when considering which alcohol is least harmful to the liver, doctors opt for good, natural wine. Grape juice is completely fermented. When the seeds and the remains of the peel remain inside, the result is red wine, which becomes the basis for the production of wine.

These wines have the least destructive power for the liver. They are also the most beneficial for the body, since all the most valuable substances from the peel and seeds of the fruit are transferred into the composition of the wine.

8th place: vodka

In the unanimous opinion of doctors, vodka, our legendary drink, already considered a national treasure, is the safest.But also insidious, because we can only talk about benefits if the quality of the alcohol is high and its consumption is minimal..

Vodka is considered the safest of all types of alcohol, but its regular consumption leads to the development of alcoholism

Doctors, speaking about the safety of vodka, explain their words by the following qualities of this strong alcohol:

• minimum amount of calories;
• complete absence of carbohydrates;
• purity of the ingredients, vodka is made from a mixture of water and alcohol.

By the way, high-quality vodka almost never leads to severe hangovers. But that doesn't mean you can drink it without a snack. Good, fatty food is a mandatory addition to this alcohol.

Consequences of consuming alcoholic beverages

The consequences of consuming alcoholic beverages are divided into short-term, which appear within a few hours of consumption, and long-term, which appear after a long period of systematic libations.

The main short-term consequence is a state of intoxication, which is accompanied by changes in metabolic processes, disturbances in the functioning of the brain, vestibular apparatus and stress on all systems of the body.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning vary depending on the concentration of ethanol in the blood, including:

• Confusion of speech and consciousness;
• decreased hearing and vision, hallucinations;
• attachment of red blood cells and, as a consequence, anemia;
• drowsiness;
• vomiting, diarrhea, nausea;
• headache, tinnitus;
• difficulty in natural physiological processes (breathing, urination, etc. );
• memory leaks;
• attacks of aggression, euphoria, mood swings.

While intoxicated, people are more likely to suffer domestic injuries, be involved in traffic accidents, and be involved in sexual assault or other forms of physical assault.

In the long term, people who systematically drink alcoholic beverages develop a stable addiction. This negatively affects both human health and the social and living conditions of his life.

Alcoholics face various physiological problems, but most often with:

• pathologies of internal organs, chronic intoxication of the body;
• spinal cord injury, atrophic heart disease, stroke;
• throat, stomach, liver and colon cancer;
• hormonal disorders;
• erectile dysfunction, infertility, early menopause, etc. ;
• lack of B vitamins, calcium and zinc.

These problems are a consequence of the behavioral characteristics of an alcohol-dependent person who tends to lead an antisocial lifestyle.

Social problems such as:

• crisis in relationships with family, friends, colleagues;
• difficulty finding work and employment;
• tendency to violence, aggressive behavior;
• the formation of mental pathologies, among which there are serious psychoses, personality disorders and manic states.

Impact speed

According to the speed of impact, all alcoholic drinks can be divided into two types:

"Fast"	These include strong alcohol (400 and above), such as vodka, tequila, absinthe, etc.
"Slow"	Low alcohol cocktails, champagne, beer and wines have a slow action.

Despite the fact that intoxication from vodka occurs faster than from beer, the harm to health can be the same. Often a person who prefers low-alcohol drinks is not aware of the amount he drinks.

He cannot stop in time, while the amount of ethanol in the body already exceeds the safe limit. The consequence of such irrational behavior is severe intoxication and severe hangover.

Drinking any alcohol should be accompanied by a hearty snack: this significantly reduces the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood, and also protects the gastrointestinal tract from the harmful effects of alcohol.

Conclusion

Ethyl alcohol contained in any alcoholic beverage is poisonous. However, the liver is able to process small amounts of ethanol, removing it completely from the body and protecting vital organs, functions and systems.

Scientists have calculated safe daily doses of various types of alcohol-containing drinks. These indicators are valid for adults who rarely drink and do not suffer from chronic diseases.

Any amount of alcohol is strictly prohibited:

• people under the age of 18;
• pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as couples planning a pregnancy.

Among the variety of types of alcohol, vodka is considered the safest, and energy cocktails are the least safe.

Non-alcoholic beer produced according to brewing technology also contains a small amount of ethanol (from 0. 5%), therefore it cannot be considered safe for health and requires restrictions in the volume of consumption.