The summer heat is intense, and a bottle of cold beer can not only quench the thirst but also help socialize, which is simply killing two birds with one stone. However, experts remind alcohol lovers that while alcohol is delicious, it can harm the liver. For those who consume more than 48 grams of alcohol daily for five consecutive years, 32% will develop alcoholic liver disease to varying degrees. Why does drinking cause liver disease? How can one drink healthily?
Why does drinking cause liver disease?
All types of alcohol contain different amounts of alcohol. After entering the human body, only 10% of the alcohol is excreted through the stomach and intestines, while 90% is metabolized in the liver. The main component of alcohol is ethanol, which is oxidized into acetaldehyde after entering liver cells. Both ethanol and acetaldehyde have toxic effects that directly stimulate and damage liver cells, causing fatty degeneration and even necrosis of liver cells.
People who easily flush when drinking are more prone to alcoholic liver disease
After drinking, the concentration of acetaldehyde in the blood increases significantly, which can cause discomfort symptoms such as facial flushing, palpitations, dizziness, and nausea, thereby preventing further heavy drinking. If the above symptoms appear but one continues to drink heavily, the acetaldehyde content in the body will continue to rise, which can not only lead to alcohol poisoning symptoms but in severe cases can even lead to blindness.
Therefore, alcoholic drinkers who flush easily are at a higher risk of developing alcoholic liver disease, and their chances of developing other digestive tract cancers also increase significantly.
Occasional drinking can also lead to alcoholic liver disease
This is because the formation of alcoholic liver disease is related to the alcohol concentration in the drink. Studies have shown that the liver's tolerance for men is 48g of alcohol per day, while for women it is even less.
48g of alcohol is equivalent to 100ml of brandy, 120ml of whiskey, 250ml of Shaoxing wine, or 1000ml of beer. If this amount is exceeded for 3 to 5 years, or if there is a history of heavy drinking within two weeks (daily alcohol intake greater than 96g), liver damage will occur.
The formula for calculating alcohol intake is: Intake × Alcohol content × 0.8 = Alcohol intake. Taking beer as an example: 750ml × 0.08 × 0.8 = 48 grams, which means that drinking one bottle of beer a day greatly increases the risk of alcoholic liver disease. Currently, the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease in China is 4.34%, with a male-to-female ratio of 8:1. Additionally, a survey of more than 300 patients showed that the onset of alcoholic liver disease is clearly getting younger, accounting for about 60% of new cases of cirrhosis. Among them, 80% of patients are around 40 years old, and the youngest patient with alcoholic liver disease is only 26 years old.
The best way to stay away from liver disease is, of course, to quit drinking. However, if some people really cannot give up alcohol due to work or other reasons, they should also pay attention to some techniques to reduce liver damage.
Eight tips to drink without harming your liver
1. Drink warm wine whenever possible
Whether it's baijiu or yellow rice wine, drinking it after warming it up: first, it is fragrant and palatable; second, it can volatilize some harmful aldehydes with low boiling points, reducing harmful ingredients. Drinking is sometimes unavoidable. Moderate drinking is beneficial to health, while excessive drinking harms the body.
2. Don't drink on an empty stomach
Drink while eating. Alcohol stays in the stomach for a longer time, and due to the interference of gastric acid, it is absorbed slowly, making it less likely to cause drunkenness. If you drink several shots in a row or drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol concentration in the blood will rise very high in an instant, putting you in a dangerous state of numbness. Therefore, this way of drinking should be avoided as much as possible.
Before drinking, eat some starchy foods first, or drink a cup of high-fiber oatmeal. According to research, water-soluble starch is more effective than fat in reducing alcohol absorption. If there's no time to eat, you can drink a meal replacement drink first. The fiber in the meal replacement will make your stomach feel full immediately, reducing alcohol intake.
3. Don't gulp it down
Drink slowly, taking breaks from time to time. When drinking, avoid carbonated drinks like Coke or soda, as they can speed up the body's absorption of alcohol.
4. Eat more green leafy vegetables and bean products when drinking
The antioxidants and vitamins in green leafy vegetables can protect the liver; the lecithin in bean products also has a protective effect on the liver.
5. The best remedy for drunkenness is not tea
Let alone Sprite or Coke, it's juice. Orange juice and apple juice, in particular, have a good effect on sobering up because they contain fructose, which can help the body burn alcohol more effectively.
6. Don't mix different types of alcohol
Because various alcohols have different components and contents, mixing them can cause changes, making people feel uncomfortable after drinking, and even causing headaches and drunkenness.
7. Don't use medicinal liquor as a banquet wine
Some medicinal ingredients may conflict with certain food components or undergo chemical changes, causing nausea, vomiting, and discomfort after drinking.
8. Pay attention to baijiu and beer
When drinking baijiu, drink more plain water to help the alcohol be excreted through urine as soon as possible. When drinking beer, go to the toilet frequently. When drinking strong liquor, it's best to add ice cubes.
Warm reminder: Many people like to drink for fun, but alcohol not only damages the body, but heavy drinking also affects the nervous system, leading to slow brain reactions. Therefore, drinking should be in moderation. There are other ways to have fun, and the friendship between friends cannot be measured by alcohol.