Things You Need to Know About Moderate Alcohol Consumption

If you plan to get wasted every weekend, you should think twice. Keep in mind that getting wasted is not best for your overall health. Experts are not saying to totally abandon drinking. If drinking is already part of your life, you should at least know the concept of moderate alcohol consumption to reap its potential benefits.

There are different types of alcoholic beverages but the most popular are beer, wine, and spirits. Beer is the oldest and the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. In fact, it is the third most famous drink after water and tea. Beers are made by fermenting different starches like malted barley, rice, corn, and wheat. Types of beers include ales, wheat beers, larger beers, and fruit beers.

Wine, on the other hand, is created from fermented grapes or other fruits. Types of wines include red wine, white wine, rose wine, champagne, and fortified wines. Finally, spirits refer to alcoholic beverages that have been distilled to make them stronger. Types of spirits include vodka, whiskey, rum, tequila, gin, and absinthe.

Now that you know the different types of alcoholic beverages, it is time to learn things about moderate alcohol consumption.

Guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption
For healthy adult women, they can consider up to one drink a day. For healthy adult men, they can consider up to two drinks a day. One drink for beer means 12 ounces or 355 milliliters. While one drink for wine means 5 ounces or 148 milliliters. Finally, one drink for spirits (80 proof) mean 1.5 ounces or 44 milliliters.

The strength of alcoholic drinks
You also need to be aware of the strength of alcoholic drinks before you consider Booze Up. The most common way to determine its strength is through the ABV (Alcoholic Beverage by Volume). This is the percentage of the alcohol per volume. For a beer, it can be anywhere from 2 to 12% ABV. For wines, it can be anywhere from 9 to 16% ABV. For spirits, it can be anywhere from 20 to 80% ABV.

Benefits of moderate consumption
The first noted benefit is it can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. According to a study conducted by Harvard University’s School of Public Health, moderate intake of alcohol will raise the HDL (High-density Lipoprotein) levels otherwise known as “good cholesterol”. Remember that higher HDL levels are linked to heart disease protection.

According to a study conducted by the Catholic University of Campobasso, drinking moderate could reduce the risk of death by 18%. Moderate alcohol preferably during meals is the right way to consume. Aside from that, Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Psychology exposed that it can reduce the susceptibility of a person against common colds. It does not stop there because it can also reduce the risk of gallstones and lowers the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

When to avoid alcohol
There are some people who should avoid alcohol even in moderation. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, it is better to avoid alcohol. If you have been diagnosed with alcohol abuse or alcoholism, you need to totally avoid alcoholic beverages even in moderation. If you have liver or pancreatic disease, alcohol should not be a part of your diet.