Almost no holiday is complete without alcohol. But everything should be done 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 this has disastrous consequences.
Classification of alcohol hazards
Any food product containing at least 1. 5% ethyl alcohol is alcoholic. Ethanol drinks are systematized by C₂H₅OH level, type of raw material used, type of production and aging criteria.
Due to the presence of alcohol:
- low content - beer, wine;
- high - vodka, sugar cane rum, gin, grain whiskey, grape spirit and more.
All drinks are produced from different types of raw materials.
The first can be divided into the following
- grape-based - brandy, wine, Italian grappa;
- grains – whiskey, beer groups, vodka;
- fruits and berries – Calvados apple, liqueur, liqueur;
- herbs - balsam, rum, Mexican tequila, absinthe.
Each alcoholic drink 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;
- average – 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 highest step is occupied by vodka, armagnac, tequila, rum, absinthe and other intoxicating liquids. The consumption of ethyl alcohol is in the leading position. The alcohol volume reaches 95%.
It is believed that the main harm to health is caused by the strength of the drink, however, consuming products with weak alcohol can cause no less harm than strong ones.
Characteristics of the least harmful alcohol
Judgments regarding intoxicating liquids vary considerably. Some nutritionists claim that drinking beverages is beneficial, while others claim that it is harmful to health.
The criteria for least harmful alcohol are as follows:
- The degree of its quality.
- Amount of ethanol.
- Flavoring additions.
- 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 harmful carbonyl group;
- the simplicity of an alcoholic liquid - water with alcohol.
A quality product consumed almost never causes a hangover. But this does not mean that you can drink vodka without measure. To avoid poisoning, your snack should consist of fatty foods.
However, experts characterize genuine grape wines as the least safe alcohol for the liver. The fruits of the bush do not contain harmful residues. If you do not separate the skins from the berries, you get a variety of red wine, recognized as the healthiest.
This is due to the fact that the vitamins contained in the peel pass into the liquid alcoholic medium, 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 manifests itself as follows:
Organs exposed to alcohol and diseases that can occur under the influence of alcoholic beverages
- Intoxication interrupts the flow of oxygen to the brain, causing brain cells to die. Encephalopathy develops, the changes are irreversible.
- The cardiovascular system is affected. Pathologies develop: ischemic and hypertension, cardiomyopathy. In some people, alcohol addiction causes the heart to enlarge.
- The respiratory rate increases, tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis develop.
- The functions of the digestive system are disturbed, as the mucous membrane takes on the effect of the poison. Patients are diagnosed with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Alcohol destroys the liver, causes cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatosis.
- Disturbances in excretory function occur. Alcohol is harmful to the kidneys, because under the influence of alcohol their epithelium is destroyed.
- Endocrine glands are affected. Almost half of people who suffer from alcoholism experience decreased sexual function. Against this background, neuroses, depression and other disorders of the central nervous system appear. In women, the menstrual cycle is interrupted, menopause occurs prematurely, and preeclampsia and miscarriages are possible during pregnancy.
- The skin and muscle tissue become depleted and various dermatological diseases appear.
- Hematopoietic processes are disrupted, the production of lymphocytes decreases and allergic reactions appear.
- Mental abnormalities occur: convulsions, hallucinations, partial loss of sensitivity 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 quickens, his blood pressure increases and, in some cases, his temperature increases.
Regular alcohol consumption reduces life expectancy, leads to premature aging and disability.
Does the harm depend on the degree of alcohol?
Alcohol content determines the timing of alcohol removal 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 drink must be based on criteria that determine the level of harmful effects on the human body. These criteria include:
- quality (manufacturer, compliance with established safety requirements, bottling, transportation and storage conditions);
- concentration (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 breakdown 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 of fusel oils.
Even homemade wines and spirits, made from purified water and quality products, are more harmful than store-bought ones. It is impossible to properly 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
There is an opinion that the harm from 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 and low-quality raw materials were used in production. This affects the composition of the alcoholic beverage and also worsens the consequences of its use.
Manufacturers that meet 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 learn about the types of alcohol. The most common gradation is the classification of alcohol by concentration:
| Classification | Scrolling |
strong alcohol |
cognac, whiskey, ethyl alcohol (medicinal), sambuca, rum, vodka, absinthe, tequila, gin, cognac |
| medium strength drinks | vermouth, wines of all kinds, liqueurs, cider, martini, punch, grog |
| low alcohol (and carbonated) content | beer, beer products, sparkling wines and champagne |
Many ordinary people talk about the harm of alcohol based on its degree. And they believe that the weaker the alcohol, the safer it is.Based on this reasoning, we can say that the most harmless alcohol is beer or champagne. This is a big mistake.
The harmfulness of alcohol does not depend on its degree. Even weak alcoholic beverages 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, consumed 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 that you can drink with peace of mind, without worrying about future health problems? We can say right away: there is no absolutely safe alcohol, any drink containing ethyl alcohol is a priori classified as dangerous and destructive. But there is a list compiled by scientists that lists alcoholic beverages in order of the harm they cause. Check out this rating.
1st place: alcoholic energy drinks
In the spring of 2017, the world learned the data from a long-term study organized and conducted by Canadian scientists. According to their research, the greatest danger for people is mixing ethanol with various energy drinks or ready-made canned alcoholic energy cocktails.. In addition to the known harms of alcohol, these drinks bring their fans the following:
- Attacks of aggressive behavior.
- Suicide attempts, most of which were successful.
- Increased injury rate. Fans of alcoholic energy cocktails were more likely to be involved in traffic accidents compared to fans of "purer" alcohol.
Alcoholic energy drinks are considered the most dangerous drinks for health.
Scientists have found an explanation for this. Caffeine, necessarily included in the composition of this alcohol, has a relaxing effect on the body and suppresses the sedative effect of ethanol. As a result, the intoxicated person not only does not understand the fact of intoxication itself, but also does not realize his own actions, considering them completely appropriate.
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, after sobering up, cannot 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, cafes and clubs. It is very difficult to convince them of the dangers of such a hobby. Can light, aromatic cocktails be harmful? But, in fact, they occupy second place in the ranking of the most dangerous alcoholic drinks.
The harm of alcoholic cocktails lies in their composition
The issue is in its composition. In fact, in addition to alcohol, the ingredients include carbonated drinks, sweetened water, liqueurs, syrups, and juices. These components, when mixed together, create a dangerous mixture that:
- instantly absorbed into the blood;
- causes severe intoxication;
- increase the concentration of sugar in the body;
- leads to a severe hangover;
- significantly increase the load on almost all internal organs.
All body systems begin to work in emergency mode: the liver neutralizes ethanol, while actively absorbing glucose. The kidneys try to quickly remove toxic toxins from the body and the functioning of the pancreas is activated. And the heart increases its rhythm, trying to ensure normal blood flow to actively functioning organs.
Even a small glass of alcoholic cocktail brings triple the load on the body. The more of these drinks a person drinks, the stronger his hangover syndrome will manifest itself.
3rd place: champagne and sparkling wine
Produced with careful adherence to the technological process, high-quality champagne will not cause much harm to the body if drunk in the volume of one glass. But the passion for this drink will turn it into a terrible monster. The explanation is as follows:
- Fine champagne contains a large amount of sugar. It has an extremely negative effect on the functioning and condition of the liver and pancreas.
- Once in the gastrointestinal tract, this drink leads to the development of rapid decomposition processes, involving undigested food remains. Champagne owes these processes to the carbon dioxide it contains.
A good champagne won't hurt if you don't drink more than one glass.
Large volumes of this pleasant and 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 and large man in a short time.
4th place: beer
An extremely popular drink, enjoyed by both men and women in equal quantities.But meanwhile, this fragrant foam is very dangerous due to rapid addiction and the 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 disruptions in the hormonal system.
Unfortunately, narcologists now diagnose beer alcoholism much more often than addiction caused by strong drinks. Unfortunately, without knowing the dangers of beer, people begin to become addicted to it from adolescence, damaging their own 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
Constant and prolonged addiction to 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 has a negative impact on the functioning of the reproductive system;
- causes global changes in the thickness and structure of the myocardium (heart muscle), which causes the development of numerous cardiac pathologies.
Furthermore, the harmful effect does not depend on the brand or brand of beer. This drink is dangerous in any case, regardless of the variety and manufacturing 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 deal 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 benefits:
- Stabilizes high blood pressure;
- Stops the pathogenic activity of viruses.
Cognac has the ability to stabilize blood pressure, but only with moderate and rare consumption
But a good cognac can be distinguished by such talents, provided that it is consumed minimally and infrequently. It is believed that the safe dose of this strong alcohol does not exceed 50 g.
6th place: liquors
This alcohol is much safer than various types of low-alcohol alcohol. Liqueurs do not contain carbon dioxide and are traditionally consumed in small doses.Its only and significant disadvantage is its high sugar content.. It is for this reason that aromatic and tasty liqueurs should not be consumed by people who suffer from diabetes and tend to gain weight quickly.
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 natural wine alcohol produced by fermenting grapes. It is true that in some people predisposed to allergic manifestations, red wine can provoke allergic attacks.
Women are recommended to drink good red wine (in strictly limited quantities), as this alcohol is rich in antioxidants that prevent the body from aging.
Wine can only be beneficial if consumed wisely
In fact, when considering which alcohol is least harmful to the liver, doctors opt for good, natural wine. Grape juice is fully fermented. When the seeds and the remains of the skin remain in it, the result is red wine, which becomes the basis for wine production.
These wines have the least destructive power for the liver. They are also the most beneficial for the body, as all the most valuable substances from the skin and seeds of the fruit are transferred to the wine composition.
8th place: vodka
According to the unanimous opinion of doctors, vodka, our legendary drink, which is already considered a national treasure, is the safest.But it is 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 ingredients, vodka consists of a mixture of water and alcohol.
By the way, high-quality vodka almost never causes a severe hangover. But that doesn't mean you can drink without a snack. Good, fatty foods are an obligatory addition to this alcohol.
Consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages
The consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages are divided into short-term, which appear a few hours after ingestion, and long-term, which are felt 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 body systems.
The 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;
- sticking of red blood cells and, as a result, anemia;
- somnolence;
- vomiting, diarrhea, nausea;
- headaches, tinnitus;
- difficulty in natural physiological processes (breathing, urination, etc. );
- memory losses;
- attacks of aggression, euphoria, sudden changes in mood.
While intoxicated, people are more likely to suffer domestic injuries, be in traffic accidents, and engage in sexual violence or other forms of physical aggression.
In the long term, people who systematically drink alcohol develop a stable addiction. This negatively affects both human health and the social and living conditions of his life.
Alcoholics face a number of physiological problems, but most often with:
- pathologies of internal organs, chronic intoxication of the body;
- spinal cord injuries, atrophic heart disease, strokes;
- 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 addict who tends to lead an antisocial lifestyle.
Social problems such as:
- crisis in relationships with family, friends, colleagues;
- difficulties in finding employment and work;
- tendency to violence, aggressive behavior;
- the formation of mental pathologies, including severe psychoses, personality disorders and manic states.
Impact speed
According to the speed of exposure, all alcoholic beverages 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 are slow-acting. |
Despite the fact that vodka poisoning occurs more quickly than beer, the damage to health can be the same. Often, a person who prefers low-alcohol drinks does not know how much they drink.
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 a severe hangover.
Consuming 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 present in any alcoholic drink is poisonous. However, the liver is capable of processing small amounts of ethanol, completely removing it from the body and protecting vital organs, functions and systems.
Scientists have calculated safe daily doses of several types of alcohol-containing drinks. These indicators are valid for adults who rarely drink and do not have chronic diseases.
Any amount of alcohol is strictly prohibited:
- people under 18;
- pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as couples planning to become pregnant.
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 on the volume of consumption.