Alcohol
is a legal depressant, a liquid obtained by fermentation
of carbohydrates by yeast or by distillation.
There are many different types of alcohol, but
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is the type of alcohol
that is used to make alcoholic beverages.
The use of Alcohol may not become
a problem when used moderately. Moderate use of
alcohol is defined as up to two drinks per day
for men and one drink per day for women and older
people. A "drink" is defined as 12 oz.
of beer or a wine cooler, a 5 oz. glass of wine,
or 1.5 oz. of 80 proof distilled
spirits.
The NIAAA (National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) states that moderate
alcohol use may be beneficial to users. Studies
have shown that moderate drinkers are less likely
to die from one form of heart disease than are
people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink
more. It is believed that these smaller amounts
of alcohol help protect against heart disease
by changing the blood's chemistry, thus reducing
the risk of blood clots in the heart's arteries.
However, some people shouldn't drink
at all. The list includes:
- Women who
are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- People who plan to drive or engage
in other activities that require alertness and
skill such as using high-speed machinery
- People taking certain over-the-counter
medications
- People with medical conditions
that can be made worse by drinking
- Recovering alcoholics
- People under the age of 21
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