I cannot remember reading or hearing about any nutritionist suggesting that a patient should take alcohol, what is common is the advice to stay away from it. Well, this does not mean that you cannot consume alcoholic drinks if you so desire.
Alcohol unlike carbohydrates, proteins and fat requires no digestion, so it is absorbed rapidly throughout the digestive tract including the stomach. It moves through the cell membranes and damages protein in the membranes. Because it cannot be stored in the body, alcohol has absolute priority in metabolism as a fuel source taking precedence over carbohydrates.
When the rate of alcohol consumption exceeds the liver’s metabolic capacity, blood alcohol levels rise and the symptoms of intoxication appear as the brain and central nervous system are exposed to alcohol.
Some reports say alcohol reduces the feeling of anxiety and stress, in elderly people it is said that moderate alcohol intake can stimulate appetite and increase dietary intake.
Excessive alcohol intake affects many organs and systems of the body. It can lead to abnormal heart beats, fluid retention in the lungs, high blood pressure and the risk of stroke. Since the liver is the main organ for alcohol metabolism, long-term alcohol intake can damage the liver.
