Alcohol and Diet

Alcohol and Diet: Recommendations

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that if you drink, do so in moderation and when consumption does not put you or others at risk. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that women have no more than one drink a day and men no more than two drinks per day.

One drink is a 12-ounce bottle of beer; a 5-ounce glass of wine; or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of liquor. Chronic or excessive use of alcohol may lead to alcoholism. Drinking that endangers you or others (such as drinking and driving) is labeled "problem drinking."

DURING PREGNANCY:
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition caused by alcohol intake during pregnancy. Alcohol in the bloodstream of the mother crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus. Fetal alcohol syndrome results in growth failure after birth, reduced IQ, and malformation of facial features. ALCOHOL INTAKE DURING PREGNANCY IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

RESPONSIBLE INTAKE:
Your body's ability to break down alcohol depends on your weight, recent food intake, physical condition, and gender. A larger person can usually tolerate more alcohol. Recent food intake will slow the digestion of alcohol, thereby minimizing its effects. Men generally tolerate more alcohol than women.

It is believed that gender and genetic factors determining alcohol tolerance are related to a person's ability to produce the enzyme that helps digests alcohol. If you produce more of this enzyme, less of what you drink reaches the bloodstream in the form of alcohol, and more arrives already broken down. Therefore, a person with more of this enzyme can tolerate more alcohol without the effects on the central nervous system.

General guidelines for appropriate use of alcohol:

• Never drink alcohol and drive a car. Have someone designated to drive if you're going to drink, or plan an alternative way home, such as a taxi or bus.
• As a general rule, the lower your body weight, the more intense the effect alcohol will have on you. Also remember that women are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol than men.
• Do not drink on an empty stomach. Snack before and during alcohol consumption and drink slowly to avoid becoming overly intoxicated.
• If you are taking any medication, including over-the-counter medications, check with your pharmacist before drinking alcohol. Alcohol can intensify the effects of many medications and drugs and can interact with others, making them ineffective.
• Do not drink at all if you have a history of alcohol abuse.

While extensive research documents the substantial detrimental health effects of excess alcohol intake, there is also significant data suggesting health benefits can be achieved from a light level of drinking. An intake no greater than one drink per day can reduce the incidence of stroke, decrease blood pressure, and may produce other beneficial effects.

Talk to your health care provider about your consumption of alcohol.