It is not enough to know "your standard", you must be able to calculate it correctly, without getting lost in the variety of drinks, its strength and the size of the glasses. So that people can monitor how much they drink, in 1987 in the United Kingdom, it introduced the concept of "unit": an alcohol unit. This alcohol accounting method was very convenient and was taken in service in other countries of the world.
An alcohol unit is equal to 10 ml U 8 g of pure ethanol, which corresponds approximately to the volume of alcohol, that the body of an average adult can process within an hour. In theory, this means that in an hour in an adult's blood there will almost be no traces of alcohol, although people have the body's alcohol elimination rate may vary.
According to the above, there are allowed alcohol standards, whose excess is dangerous for health. This:
- No more than 3-4 alcohol units per day for men;
- No more than 2-3 alcohol units per day for women.
It should be noted that this does not refer to the average consumption of alcohol in a few days, namely, the maximum allowed alcohol in one day.
At the same time, the number of strong drinks should not exceed a week:
- for women - 14 units;
- For men - 21 units.
If you drank an excessive amount of alcohol the previous day, refrain from alcohol in the next 48 hours.
From units to "Drin"
The number of alcohol units in the drink depends on the strength and volume of the drunk. So:
- A glass of wine (250 ml) of a 12% fortress contains approximately 3 units of alcohol;
- Bank of Beer (1 L) of the 5% strength contains approximately 4 units of alcohol;
- A pile of vodka (25 ml) of the 40% fortress contains approximately 1 unit of alcohol.
Therefore, the daily norm allowed, on average, is:
- a glass of wine at dinner;
- About a half of the liter of beer of an ordinary fortress;
- 2-3 small vodka batteries.
For lovers of exotic alcoholic beverages and cocktails, the formula will be useful with which the number of units can calculate in any volume of several drinks:
- Strength (%) x volume (ml) ÷ 1000 = alcohol units.
How to reduce alcohol damage?
Once in the body, alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, and then with a blood flow of blood extends through the body, easily penetrating all tissues and organs. The maximum concentration of alcohol in the blood is observed approximately one hour after use, this is the time of stronger poisoning and euphoria. Then the alcohol enters processing.
In the first stage, a water molecule is separated from ethanol, and vinegar aldehyde forms. This is a poison for the body, the poster and poisoning are associated with it. In the second stage, aldehyde becomes acetic acid, which is not toxic and destroyed for carbon dioxide and energy with energy. Two enzymes are controlled by alcohol division processes: alcohol dehydroginase (ADG) and acetaldehideshydrogenase (ALDG). The speed of your work is an innate genetic characteristic.
In a person with quick adg and Aldg, alcohol in the body does not persist, and the aldehyde is rapidly broken to harmless substances. Such man is slowly drunk and does not suffer a strong hangover. About people with slow enzymes they say they don't know how to drink: they quickly reach the crazy state, which is replaced by a severe hangover. But the worst of all those who have quick and slow ADG. These people do not get drunk for a long time, managing to drink more than those placed, and the vinegar aldehyde quickly formed in the body for a long time, having a harmful effect.
Consequently, poisoning force and posterior poisoning depends, in general, only the amount of drunk and inheritance. However, there are tricks that allow you to slightly reduce alcohol damage. To do this, decrease the speed of stomach alcohol absorption or reduce the amount of alcohol taken "by the necklace".
- Spy alcohol (beer, champagne) cannot be mixed with strong drinks. Carbon dioxide of "magical bubbles" accelerates alcohol absorption and increases its concentration in the blood, therefore, the severity of the hangover.
- Hot alcohol (punch, grog) and fortified wines should get drunk moderately for the soul. Sugar and high temperature accelerate the flow of alcohol in the blood and the formation of acetaldehyde.
- Before and during the party, you should eat well, especially fatty foods. In this case, alcohol assimilation will slow down and its damage is reduced to a possible minimum. Alcohol with empty stomach can lead not only to rapid poisoning, but also to dangerous hypoglycemia.
- Stretch the time between toast and drink a small volume of batteries and glasses to reduce the concentration of alcohol in the blood.
- Do not drink aspirin before and during a party. Acetylsalicylic acid slows alcohol absorption, but causes ulcerative damage to the stomach and increases the risk of bleeding.
- Caffeine extends the period of activity in the table, but in combination with alcohol, it can lead to the development of hypertensive crisis and cardiac arrhythmia.
If you often have to drink alcohol, it is useful to take a biochemical blood test 2-3 times a year and visit the therapist. To protect the liver and brain from the effects of alcohol, an intake of hepatoprotectors and vitamin preparations is recommended as prescribed by a doctor.
Do I need to drink "for health"?
Contrary to generalized opinion, at this time there is no convincing evidence that the moderate amounts of alcohol benefit the heart and clean the vessels. There is also no evidence that any alcoholic beverage has advantages over others, in terms of influence on the cardiovascular system.
Therefore, it should not drink alcohol with a "therapeutic" objective of those who do not have that habit. The use of small and moderate doses of alcohol is not a prevention of cardiovascular diseases.