Drinking alcohol in moderation can bring a sense of pleasure, help relax, increase appetite, and aid in sleep. However, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time can cause toxicity in the body due to the liver's inability to metabolize it in a timely manner.
Approximately 1/5 of the alcohol enters the stomach and is absorbed, while the rest is absorbed in the small intestine. Alcohol can enter the bloodstream within five minutes of consumption. When the blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.1%, it impairs visual and reaction abilities, increasing the risk of traffic accidents.
Long-term alcohol consumption can cause damage to the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Heavy drinking can lead to fatty liver, cirrhosis, atrophy of the esophagus and gastrointestinal mucosa, affecting digestion and absorption functions, and increasing the risk of esophageal cancer and acute pancreatitis. For individuals with gout, consuming alcoholic beverages inhibits uric acid excretion and, combined with excessive meat consumption, can trigger acute gout attacks. For individuals with cardiovascular diseases, excessive and long-term alcohol consumption can increase the burden on the heart, leading to myocardial degeneration, loss of elasticity, cardiac enlargement, and elevated blood pressure. Excessive alcohol consumption can also raise triglyceride levels in the blood, but consuming moderate amounts of red wine can improve cholesterol distribution and increase lipoprotein levels, which can help prevent arterial sclerosis.
In other aspects, alcohol abuse exacerbates gout and hypertriglyceridemia, and has toxic effects on internal organs and nerves. It is also highly addictive.
1. Drinking in a pleasant atmosphere
Enjoy drinking with friends and family in a cheerful environment. Happy drinking can uplift the mood and bring vitality for the next day.
2. Drinking at your own pace
Do not encourage or adapt to others' drinking speed. Drink at your own pace, considering the liver's processing capacity. Do not force others to drink for the sake of etiquette.
3. Eating while drinking
Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Always pair alcoholic beverages with high-nutrient appetizers, such as tofu, fish, vegetables, and seaweed.
4. Dilute high-proof alcohol
Dilute high-proof alcohol before consumption. Choose low-alcohol beverages like beer and wine.
5. Avoid smoking while drinking
Smoking and drinking together pose greater risks. Alcohol dilates blood vessels while smoking causes constriction. This puts a burden on the heart. Moreover, the tar dissolved in alcohol can adhere to the mucous membranes of the digestive organs. It is important to adhere to the principle of "no smoking while drinking and no drinking while smoking."
6. Do not mix alcohol with medication
Taking certain strong medications, such as painkillers, with alcohol can damage the gastric mucosa and cause gastric ulcers. Drinking alcohol with diabetes medication can lead to hypoglycemia. Therefore, it is important to avoid drinking alcohol with any type of medication.
7. Avoid drinking late at night
It takes approximately 6 hours for alcohol to completely metabolize in the liver. Therefore, even with moderate alcohol consumption, avoid drinking past midnight as it can interfere with work and daily life the next day.
8. Do not drink every day
To protect liver function, develop a habit of not drinking alcohol for at least two days a week. Drinking alcohol every day increases the risk of developing alcoholic fatty liver.
9. Regularly undergo liver function tests
People who enjoy drinking often tend to drink excessively. To enjoy alcohol without worries, it is important to regularly undergo liver function tests, choose a suitable drinking style, and manage oneself effectively.
Therefore, for the sake of health and longevity, middle-aged men should resist the temptation of alcohol and drink minimally or abstain altogether. As the saying goes, as long as there are emotions, anything can be a drink.
