Alcohol, benefits and risk

Fruits are used to make wines and ciders and barley or rye are used for beers and spirits.
Alcohol has the immediate effect of changing mood of people because drinking makes people feel relaxed, happy and even euphoric.
However the surpising fact is that alcohol is in fact a depressant. It switches off the part of the brain that controls judgement,
leading to loss of inhibitions. Alcohol also affects physical coordination.

Benefits
Advocate of wine says there are some benefits.In 1997, the World Health Organisation concluded that the reduced risk from
coronary heart disease was found at the level of one drink consumed every second day.

Risks
Alcohol is also the cause of wide range of illnesses, such as the increased risk of mouth, pharyngeal and oesophageal cancers
(this risk being greatly increased if combined with smoking). Furthermore, alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.

Apart from above high blood pressure, liver disease, and the depletion of certain vitamins and minerals can all be caused by
alcohol consumption.

Recommended intake
Moderation and balance is the key. One may take 2 or 3 units a day for 2 or 3 days a week.

(One unit is considered to be 8g of alcohol).