The Effects of Alcohol

The Effects of Alcohol

Final Research Paper

Introduction to Nutrition

There are many reasons why a person consumes alcoholic beverages. They choose to use alcohol to relax, decrease stress, promote social interaction, produce feelings of happiness and satisfaction. The human body requires psychological balance and unfortunately many people turn to alcohol to obtain psychological balance. But what are the consequences of consuming alcoholic beverages to our body?

In order to understand how alcohol is broken down in our body, we need to understand what alcohol is. Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and is diluted with water and other substances. It is considered a drug because the body builds up an increasing tolerance to it and develops a craving for it. Alcohol is a lipid-soluble compound and it can diffuse into the cells of our body and affect their function. (Martini, 2004. pg. 472). The cells in our body have a selective permeable membrane meaning they only allow certain substances in and out of the cell but if a molecule is a lipid-soluble it can enter a cell without any help.

A Kranz (wreath) of Kölsch beer.

English: Total recorded alcohol per capita consump...

Alcoholic beverage label

This is why alcohol affects so many of our bodily function (motor skills, speech, muscles).

Alcohol does not need to be digested. Most of it is absorbed through the stomach walls directly into the bloodstream (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2004). Alcohol is able to reach the brain through the bloodstream within a minute depending on certain circumstances (Frances and Whitney, 2003. pg. 92). When the stomach is full it takes the alcohol longer to reach the stomach walls. Diluting alcoholic drinks, carbohydrate snacks, and high fat snacks slow alcohol absorption because it keeps it in the stomach longer (Frances and Whitney, 2003. pg. 92). Also the size of the person is a determining factor because the same...