Introduction: In China, wine culture has a long history, since our ancestors mastered the technology of winemaking thousands of years ago, wine has become an important part of our lives.
Whether it's a festive celebration, a business dinner or a gathering of friends and family, wine is an indispensable ingredient, however, people have different opinions about the pros and cons of wine.
Some people believe that drinking alcohol in moderation can bring health benefits, they quote scriptures, citing the words of the ancients, "wine can nourish nature, immortals drink it", that drinking alcohol in moderation every night can promote blood circulation, relax the body and mind, and help to maintain health, they believe that under the premise of reasonable control of alcohol consumption, moderate drinking can become a healthy lifestyle.
However, the negative health effects of excessive alcohol consumption are undeniable, and many scientific studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of diseases such as liver disease, cardiovascular disease, etc.
Alcohol not only causes damage to organs such as the liver and brain, but also affects people's mood, thinking, and behavior, so many experts recommend that people should limit the amount of alcohol they drink or even abstain from alcohol altogether. So, is drinking one or two drinks at night healthy or harmful?
It is rumored that the non-volatile lipopeptide compound lichenin in baijiu has anti-cancer, antiviral, fibrinolytic and antibacterial biological activities, and this study seems to prove the antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering effects of baijiu.
However, we need to note that baijiu is mainly made from grains, which contains some nutrients, but this does not mean that drinking baijiu can fight cancer.
In fact, alcohol is one of the key factors in the cause of many types of cancer, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has long identified alcohol as a Class 1 carcinogen, and alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde in the liver, which is highly biotoxic.
Although some acetaldehyde may be converted into harmless acetic acid, there will still be residues that can be absorbed by the body, and long-term alcohol consumption will increase the risk of cancer in at least 7 parts of the body, including the oropharynx, esophagus, larynx, liver, colon, rectum and breast.
Even small amounts of alcohol can increase cancer risk, and people who consume more than 50 grams of alcohol per day have a 4-7 times higher chance of developing cancer than those who don't drink alcohol, so staying away from alcohol is key in order to effectively prevent and fight cancer.
The claim that drinking a small amount of alcohol is good for your health is actually just an excuse for many people to continue drinking, and in fact, no matter how much you drink, it is harmful to your health.
Long-term drinking will cause irreparable damage to the body, and drinking one or two liquor at night is like committing chronic suicide, because the harm of drinking a small amount of alcohol will gradually manifest itself over time.
In 2016, a compelling study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which surveyed 900,000 people over a 12-year period, found that long-term moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of atrial fibrillation.
In addition, alcohol is also an important cause of cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction, which means that even moderate alcohol consumption can pose a fatal risk.
In 2017, the World Health Organization listed alcohol as a class of carcinogens, which is undoubtedly a strong warning about the harm of alcohol to human health.
In addition, a large number of studies have also shown that long-term drinking will increase the risk of liver cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer and other cancers, and drinking alcohol will accelerate the aging of blood vessels, reduce the elasticity of blood vessels, and is not conducive to the control of blood pressure.
Those who drink alcohol for a long time but still maintain their health are actually just an example, not representative, and the damage caused to the body by drinking one or two liquor every night exists, and it does not have the effect of health preservation.
It takes many years for this damage to become apparent, so for the sake of our health, we should still do it without drinking alcohol.
After alcohol enters the human body, it will cause damage to the health of the body through a series of physiological reactions, and the following are some specific ways of destruction:
Damage to the liver
Alcohol is mainly metabolized through the liver, and long-term heavy drinking can lead to the occurrence of liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis.
Damage to the stomach
Alcohol can stimulate gastric acid secretion, leading to gastritis, gastric ulcers and other gastric diseases. At the same time, alcohol can also affect the digestion and absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to nutrient absorption disorders.
Damage to the brain
Alcohol can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and have an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system, and long-term heavy drinking can lead to problems such as memory loss, slow reaction, lack of concentration, and in severe cases, alcoholic encephalopathy.
Damage to the heart
Alcohol can cause heart problems such as weakened myocardial contractility, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure, and long-term heavy drinking can lead to problems such as heart muscle hypertrophy and heart enlargement, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Damage to the pancreas
Alcohol stimulates pancreatic secretion, leading to the occurrence of acute pancreatitis. At the same time, long-term heavy alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of chronic pancreatitis.
Damage to the immune system
Alcohol inhibits the normal function of the immune system, leading to a decrease in the body's resistance and susceptibility to diseases.
Damage to bones
Alcohol can affect the body's absorption and utilization of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, and long-term heavy drinking can lead to osteoporosis, fractures and other problems.
Is it true that some people believe that drinking white wine for a long time can have a negative impact on the body, while red wine is given the effect of softening blood vessels?
First of all, we need to understand the main components of white wine and red wine, white wine is a highly concentrated alcoholic beverage, while red wine is rich in polyphenols, such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, etc., these polyphenols are believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and have certain benefits for human health.
However, even though the polyphenols in red wine are beneficial to the human body, this does not mean that long-term consumption of red wine will soften the blood vessels.
The occurrence of arteriosclerosis is a complex process involving a variety of factors, such as genetics, diet, lifestyle habits, etc., and a single food or drink cannot solve complex health problems.
In addition, the alcohol contained in red wine also has a negative impact on human health, and long-term consumption of red wine in large quantities can increase the risk of diseases such as liver disease, cancer, etc.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
Moderate drinking standards vary from person to person, but it is generally recommended that men drink no more than two drinks a day and women drink no more than one drink a day. At the same time, try to maintain a consistency of alcohol consumption and avoid occasional heavy drinking.
Choose the right time to drink
Try to avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach and eat some food before drinking, which can slow down the absorption of alcohol and reduce the degree of drunkenness.
Drink slowly
Drinking slowly is also an effective way to reduce alcohol damage, and tasting it slowly in one sip can prolong the metabolism time of alcohol in the body, thereby reducing the damage to the body.
Avoid concomitant use with other medications
Some medications may react chemically with alcohol and increase the damage to the body, so you should avoid taking them before and after drinking.
In general, adult men should drink no more than 25 grams of alcohol per day, and women should drink no more than 15 grams of alcohol per day. Therefore, the maximum amount of liquor that can be drunk at one time should be considered comprehensively based on factors such as the individual's drinking habits, physical condition, and alcohol content.
For the average adult, if the alcohol content of liquor is around 40%-50%, then the amount of liquor consumed by men should be controlled below 50 ml per day, and the amount of liquor consumed by women per day should be controlled below 30 ml.
Of course, this amount is not absolute, as everyone's physical condition and alcohol tolerance is different.
It depends on the raw materials of the liquor
The raw materials of high-quality liquor are generally based on food crops such as sorghum, wheat, corn, etc., without adding any artificial flavors, pigments and other additives.
It depends on the brewing process of liquor
The brewing process of high-quality liquor is more exquisite, including fermentation, distillation, aging and other links, in the fermentation process, a variety of beneficial microorganisms will be produced, which can improve the taste and aroma of liquor.
During the distillation process, the temperature and time need to be controlled to ensure that the alcohol and water can be completely separated, resulting in a highly pure alcohol.
During the aging process, it is necessary to place the wine in a ventilated, dry and cool place to let the wine mature naturally and improve the quality of the wine.
It depends on the degree of liquor
The degree of high-quality liquor is generally relatively high, usually above 40 degrees, and the higher the degree, the higher the alcohol content and the richer the taste.
However, if the alcohol content of baijiu is too high, it may cause irritation to the mouth and throat and affect the taste, so when buying baijiu, you need to choose the right degree according to your taste.
It depends on the outer packaging of the liquor
The outer packaging of high-quality liquor is generally more exquisite, atmospheric, clear printing, and no fading. In addition, it is important to check the production date and expiration date of the liquor to ensure that the new liquor you purchase is a recent production.
If the outer packaging of the liquor is rough, the printing is blurry, or the production date is relatively old, then the quality of the liquor may not be very good, and you need to buy it with caution.