Alcoholic Beverages: An Overview by Food2GoodHealth

Alcohol use - as a well-established part of human culture - is something that has become almost as acceptable as eating and breathing. As a social facilitator and feel good drug of choice for many, alcohol is very popular indeed, with consumption at mass levels.

Alcoholic beverages include low-alcohol-content beverages produced by fermentation of sugar- or starch-containing products, and high-alcohol-content beverages produced by distillation of the low-alcohol-content beverages. Sometimes, the alcohol content of low-alcohol-content beverages is increased by adding distilled product, particularly in the case of wines. Such fortified wines include Port wine and Sherry.

Types, Calories & % Alcohol in Different Alcohols:

Alcoholic Drink	Size	Calories	% Alcohol
Beer	500ml	184	3-6%
Lager	500ml	180	4-5%
Cider	500ml	200	4–8%
Whisky	100ml	220	40-75 %
Gin	100ml	220	40.0-48.5
Brandy	100ml	220	35%–60%
Rum	100ml	220	40-95%
Wine	100ml	70	10-15%
Champagne	100ml	126	13%
Port	50ml	79	16%
Tequila	30	60	38–40%
Brandy	35ml	72	35%–60%

How Is Alcohol Processed In The Body?

After consuming the first alcoholic drink, 25% of this alcohol is absorbed straight from the stomach into the bloodstream, with the remainder taken in through the small bowel. Alcohol is generally absorbed fairly rapidly, but its absorption can be quickened depending on several factors such as, the weight of a person, gender of person, rate of consumption, other drugs, food in stomach and type of drink.

Around 98% of alcohol that is consumed is processed in the liver, with the other two to ten percent being expelled through urine, breathing, or sweat. The amount of alcohol in a standard drink will take around 10 hours for the average person to process, which means the more that is consumed at any one point, the greater the rise in blood alcohol content. When the liver processes alcohol, it does so in one of two ways.

For the most part, alcohol is broken down by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH, which is contained in the liver cells). ADH then metabolizes the alcohol into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is broken down into acetate by another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase. In the final stage, the acetate is further metabolized to where it eventually exits the body as waste products carbon dioxide and water.

What Are The Best Alcohol Choices?

If you really have to drink, what are the best choices? Some lower calorie brands to hit the market are showing promise, as are some of the more traditional alternatives.

As you know, total caloric content of various alcoholic drinks varies, with beer generally containing the highest number, considering the smaller amount of alcohol found in this drink compared with others. Various spirits (also known as liquor) generally contain around 64 calories per nip, but these do add up depending on the strength of the drink (for example, a double will contain two nips, or 128 calories).

Wine generally contains around 100 to 125 calories per medium sized glass. It also contains more alcohol than beer given the same volume, making it a better choice calorie-wise, as less would be consumed at any one sitting.

The worst alcohol choices would be the cream based drinks such as eggnog (340 calories without the alcohol) and an Amaretto Sour (includes tequila and orange juice and contains 421 calories). The highest calorie cocktail of the all would be the Vodka Mudslide, which contains coffee liqueur, Irish cream and vanilla ice cream and supplies 820 calories.

It would be better to drink a smaller quantity of liqueur with a healthier, lower calorie base such as trim milk or tomato juice.

The above information can however be used by one who is wanting to make some physical changes by lowering the overall caloric content of what they drink

Main concerns about drinking alcohol are as follows:

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•  Alcohol Supplies Almost Twice As Many Calories As Protein & Carbohydrates.
• Alcohol (When Used To Excess) Can Damage Kidneys
• Alcohol Lowers Testosterone.
• Drinking even moderately during pregnancy can mean a baby born with a multitude of birth defects, including severe mental retardation.
• Alcohol damages heart by raises in blood pressure and increases heart rate, which weakens the heart. Alcoholics often develop abnormal heart rhythms that put them at risk for strokes and cardiomyophathy.
• Drinking too much overworks the liver and finally leads to liver failure.
• Alcohol damages the central nervous system and the brain
• Alcohol is not digested, but instead is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mouth, throat, stomach, and small intestines. It irritates the linings of these organs and orifices, causing gastritis (inflamed stomach lining), ulcers, acid reflux disease, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
•  Alcohol resulting in low glucose levels that cause brain damage. Alcoholics therefore are often malnourished and have low energy levels.
• The excessive consumption of ethanol also makes mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus more prone to cancer.

  

Some more general guidelines to follow: 

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• If  If You drink alcohol, drink sensibly and drink alcohol in moderation.
• Drink alcohol with a lower caloric value, and a higher alcohol percentage (like wine for example). Less will be consumed, meaning lower overall calorie consumption.
• Avoid high calorie liqueurs, as these are extremely deceptive (they taste so good) and will add enormously to overall caloric content.
• Keep healthy food on hand when drinking. As mentioned, drinking will relax the inhibitions and cause one to compromise their nutritional habits.
• If drinking beer, try a lower calorie alternative. Also, drink diet sodas with various spirits to significantly lower the calorie content of these drinks.
• Drink water between alcoholic drinks as this will increase feelings of fullness and may help to prevent over consumption of alcohol.

Nutrient in Broccoli and Cauliflower Kills Cancer Cells

Scientists have found that a nutrient present in broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables can selectively target and kill cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected.

The scientists in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University have shown that sulphoraphane found at fairly high levels in these vegetables is an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, or HDAC enzymes.

HDACs are a family of enzymes that, among other things, affect access to DNA and play a role in whether certain genes are expressed or not, such as tumour suppressor genes.

HDAC inhibition is one of the more promising fields of cancer treatment and is being targeted from both a pharmaceutical and dietary approach, said scientists.

"It's important to demonstrate that sulforaphane is safe if we propose to use it in cancer prevention or therapies," said Emily Ho, associate professor in the OSU Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences and the study's lead author.

"Just because a phytochemical or nutrient is found in food doesn't always mean its safe, and a lot can also depend on the form or levels consumed. But this does appear to be a phytochemical that can selectively kill cancer cells, and that's always what you look for in cancer therapies," Ho stated.

The findings were published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, a professional journal.

What is E. Coli Infection?

 1. What is E. Coli?

E. coli is a common type of bacteria that can get into food, like beef and vegetables. The strange thing about these bacteria and lots of other bacteria is that they're not always harmful to you. E. coli normally lives inside your intestines, where it helps your body break down and digest the food you eat.

2.  How E. Coli affects us?

There are many strains (over 700 serotypes) of E. coli. Most of the E. coli are normal inhabitants of the small intestine and colon and do not cause disease in the intestines (non-pathogenic). Nevertheless, these non-pathogenic E. coli can cause disease if they spread outside of the intestines, for example, into the urinary tract (where they cause bladder or kidney infections), or into the blood stream (sepsis). Other E. coli strains (enterovirulent E. coli strains or EEC) cause "poisoning" or diarrhea even though they usually remain within the intestine by producing toxins or intestinal inflammation. There are four to six groups (some researchers combine groups) of E. coli strains that comprise EEC.

• EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli)
• ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli)
• EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli)
• EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli
• EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli
• EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli)

E. coli were first isolated by T. Escherich in 1885 and were named after him. The over 700 serotypes are identified by small antigenic changes in their surface "O" antigens (lipopolysaccharides or molecules on the bacterial surface of gram-negative bacteria).

3. How does E. coli get into food?

The bacteria live in the intestines of some healthy cattle, and contamination of the meat may occur in the slaughtering process. Eating meat that is rare or inadequately cooked is the most common way of possible exposure to E. coli contamination. Person-to-person transmission also can occur if infected people do not adequately wash their hands. Produce may become contaminated by pathogenic E. coli due to exposure to contaminated water, improper use of manure, or improper handling at the plant, in transport, at the retailer, or in the home.

Such outbreaks have been increasingly associated with fresh produce, such as lettuce and spinach, but outbreaks have also been traced to unpasteurized apple and orange juices, raw milk, alfalfa sprouts, and water.

4. Symptoms:

Symptoms of an intestinal E. coli infection vary by person but can include:

• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea (usually bloody)
• Vomiting
• Low-grade fever (typically not over 101)

These symptoms usually resolve on their own within 5 to 7 days. E. coli infections are mild in most people, but they can be serious or even life threatening in others.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection typically start 3 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, but they can occur as early as one day or as late as 10 days after exposure.

5. What you can do at Home?

Follow these tips to prevent dehydration and reduce symptoms while you recover:

• Clear liquids. Drink plenty of clear liquids, including water, clear sodas and broths, gelatin, and juices. Avoid apple and pear juices, caffeine and alcohol.
• Add foods gradually. When you start feeling better, stick to low-fiber foods at first. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs or rice.
• Avoid certain foods. Dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods can make symptoms worse.

6. How to Prevent it?

No vaccine or medication can protect you from E. coli-based illness, though researchers are investigating potential vaccines. To reduce your chance of being exposed to E. coli, avoid risky foods and avoid cross-contamination.

Risky foods

• Avoid pink hamburger. Hamburgers should be well-done. Meat, especially if grilled, is likely to brown before it's completely cooked, so use a meat thermometer to ensure that meat is heated to at least 160 F (71 C) at its thickest point. If you don't have a thermometer, cook ground meat until no pink shows in the center.
• Drink pasteurized milk, juice and cider. Any boxed or bottled juice kept at room temperature is likely to be pasteurized, even if the label doesn't say so.
• Wash raw produce thoroughly. Although washing produce won't necessarily get rid of all E. coli especially in leafy greens, which provide many spots for the bacteria to attach themselves to careful rinsing can remove dirt and reduce the amount of bacteria that may be clinging to the produce.

Avoid cross-contamination

• Wash utensils. Use hot soapy water on knives, countertops and cutting boards before and after they come into contact with fresh produce or raw meat.
• Keep raw foods separate. This includes using separate cutting boards for raw meat and foods such as vegetables and fruits. Never put cooked hamburgers on the same plate you used for raw patties.
• Wash your hands. Wash your hands after preparing or eating food, using the bathroom or changing diapers. Make sure that children also wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom and after contact with animals.

7. How is the infection treated?

There is no special treatment, except drinking a lot of water and watching for complications. Don't take medicine to stop diarrhea unless your doctor tells you to. This medicine would keep your intestines from getting rid of the E. coli germ. If you are seriously dehydrated, you might need to go to the hospital to have fluids put into your veins with an IV.