Namochi Mantou

evidence-based medicine

About the benefits and harms of alcohol

"Alcohol in small doses is good for any amount" is a joke that doctors like to remember, explaining why they prefer not to tell patients about the possible benefits of moderate drinking. There is no doubt that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health. But over moderate doses, battles have been going on for more than a year.

First you need to understand what "moderate use" is. The fact is that in different countries the norms are very different. Differences start with what counts as one "serving" (or "drink"): in the UK, for example, this is 8 grams of alcohol, while in Japan it is almost 20. In the USA, 14 grams of alcohol is considered a serving: this is the equivalent of 350 milliliters (about a can of ) beer, 150 milliliters (about a glass) of wine or 45 milliliters (about a glass) of vodka.

Accordingly, ideas about when to stop are also different everywhere. In the UK, 3-4 drinks (i.e. 24-32 grams of alcohol) per day for a man are considered "not to cause noticeable harm to health"; for women, this is 2-3 servings (16-24 grams). In Japan, men are officially advised to drink no more than two servings of sake a day (39.5 grams of alcohol); there are no guidelines for women. Finally, in the US, men are advised to drink no more than two servings a day (28 grams), and women - no more than one (14 grams). By the way, the norms for women are less, not only because they usually weigh less, but also because of gender differences in alcohol metabolism.

Different ideas about moderation lead to some confusion in talking about the benefits and harms of "moderate drinking", but still, usually in such cases we are talking about 10-30 grams of alcohol per day. And, apparently, any alcohol: attempts to find out which drinks are better for health and which are worse (for example, whether red wine really has advantages) did not give convincing results.

It should be noted that there is a serious problem with the science of the benefits and harms of alcohol: long-term randomized studies (that is, those where people would be randomly divided into groups and some were given alcohol for a long time and others not) were not conducted on this topic. All existing works can be divided into two types: short-term, studying the effect of alcohol on specific physiological parameters, and long-term observational, which usually compares the health of those who drink moderately and those who do not drink at all. But there are problems with both types of studies: short-term studies can only detect short-term effects, and long-term observational studies lack randomization, that is, the randomness of distribution. The group of those who do not drink at all can include, for example, people with an alcohol addiction in the past or people with serious illnesses, including mental illnesses - and these factors can greatly affect their life expectancy and, accordingly, their results.

Benefit or harm

However, in the absence of other scientific evidence, one has to rely on what is available. Numerous studies in different countries ( , , ) have shown that people who drink alcohol moderately have slightly lower mortality rates than teetotalers. A meta-analysis of 34 papers on this topic found that the lowest mortality rate was among those men and women who consumed an average of 6 grams of alcohol (that is, about half the American drink) per day.

Such studies have severe critics: the authors of several review analyzes ( , ) argue that many works on this topic contain errors and, for example, if people with alcohol dependence in the past are excluded from the “teetotalers” group, then the apparent healing effect of drinking small doses practically disappears.

In any case, it is important here not to fall into the temptation to see persistent causal relationships where, in fact, there is only correlation. Mortality rates, even in a large sample, can be influenced by hundreds of different factors that are very difficult to take into account in a study. Just because moderate drinkers live longer doesn't necessarily mean that it's alcohol that lengthens their lives. Although there are grounds for such an assumption.

Benefit

A large number of scientific papers have shown the association of moderate alcohol consumption with a reduced risk of developing a wide variety of problems of the cardiovascular system. Among them are coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, peripheral arterial disease. Alcohol is associated with lower mortality in people with high blood pressure.

Some studies show that light drinkers - both women and men - have a lower risk of developing gallstones compared to teetotalers.

Fairly strong evidence exists that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

However, all these positive effects disappear with an increase in the amount of alcohol - usually after 3-4 drinks per day in men and 2-3 in women. That is, with more intensive alcohol consumption, the association with positive health indicators is lost and a negative correlation begins to be noted: the more you drink, the worse your health. Graphs in so many studies on this topic resemble the letter "J": with moderate use, morbidity / mortality goes down a little compared to the "zero" level of use, and then linearly up with increasing dose.

Harm

But with the possible benefits of moderate drinking, everything is, of course, not so simple. Even light alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer. This is especially pronounced with breast cancer in women: according to some reports, up to 8 percent of breast cancer cases can be associated with a woman's drinking. Alcohol is associated with an increased risk of developing head and neck tumors (especially when combined with smoking), hepatocellular cancer in people with hepatitis C, and colorectal cancer (although data are conflicting).

While pancreatic cancer is associated only with heavy drinking (for example, 57 drinks per week for men), and the same can be said for pancreatitis: apparently, its increased risk is associated only with the use of large doses of alcohol.

It should be added that even a slight consumption of alcohol, according to some reports, can increase the risk of injury.

To drink or not to drink

Given the multitude of these factors, physicians around the world are reluctant to advise patients to deliberately consume alcohol "for health." The position of the World Health Organization is not completely clear: the WHO European office believes that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, although one of the WHO reports refers to a “low-risk” level - no more than 20 grams per day five days a week. And yet, most of the world's recommendations say: if a person drinks anyway, then he can continue to drink, but in moderation. Many studies refer specifically to American norms (for example, they are contained in the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2015-2020") - no more than two servings (14 grams of pure alcohol, corresponding, let me remind you, about a glass of wine, a can of beer or a glass of vodka) per day for men and no more than one for non-pregnant women.

Alcohol is definitely not indicated for pregnant women: although scientists do not have enough data to talk about the dangers of small doses of alcohol for the fetus, it has not yet been possible to establish a safe level of consumption, so it is best not to tempt fate. In addition, refraining from even moderate use is worthwhile for those who once had an alcohol dependence or a history of alcoholism in the family, and anyone who has alcohol-related diseases of the liver or pancreas.

Karina Nazaretyan

Hello dear readers! Today let's raise a sensitive topic that many care about, but the truth about which is often hushed up. So, at gunpoint, the well-known alcohol is the benefits and harms of its use. Did you think that alcohol is equally harmful for everyone?

That an alcoholic is an unemployed, degraded person? That drinking moderately will still become addicted? That the statistics of deaths from alcohol addiction are fiction? Let's try to find out if this is true!

Features of perception

Scientists have found that susceptibility to alcohol and its tolerance directly depend on the nationality of the drinker. So the European genotype of consumers of alcoholic beverages in the process of drinking experiences a surge of strength, euphoria, and the detrimental consequences of such libations come after many years.

It should be understood that such consequences are inevitable with the active consumption of alcoholic beverages. Usually they manifest themselves in a violation of health, in the form of:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• myocardial dystrophy;
• pancreatitis;
• gastritis;
• hemolytic anemia;
• polyneuritis or polyneuropathy;
• amnesic syndrome.

But the Asian genotype (Japan, China) experiences symptoms of poisoning and intoxication after small doses of alcoholic beverages. And everything is to blame for accelerated metabolic processes and the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which in Eastern people quickly transforms into acetaldehyde.

Perhaps that is why the eastern countries are rarely found in the ratings of the most alcoholic. Remember that terrible hangover feeling that covers the body the next day after drinking? An Eastern person experiences the same sensations even while drinking alcohol! That is why health care occupies him more than thoughts of relaxation.

Workaholic vs Alcoholic

The opinion that an alcoholic is an unemployed, aimlessly burning life person has been refuted quite recently. The stereotype was debunked by harsh statistics, according to which a person employed in the work process from 50 hours a week, which is a little more than a standard working day or a 6-day working week, suffers from alcohol addiction more often than others.

The study was conducted by New Zealand scientists for 30 years on a group of enthusiasts born in 1977. The conclusion is simple, the more intensively a person is involved at work, the more often he needs to relax. And what, no matter how alcohol is most effective in this matter!

Russian scientists conducted similar studies, the result of which is not encouraging. Constant stress, the frantic rhythm of megacities and workload leads people to regular consumption of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, exposure to such unloading is recorded more often at the age of 25 to 45 years.

Addiction comes from childhood

In Russia, things are somewhat different. Alcoholism in the country has become much younger, which caused concern and a lot of controversy in scientific circles. Studying the phenomenon of rampant drunkenness, scientists came to the conclusion that alcohol addiction can form even in childhood.

And this is not about the genetic theory of its origin. Eating habits are to blame. So in the traditional diet of infants who are on artificial feeding, kefir is necessarily present, containing alkaloids in small dosages (the alkaloid salsolinol is one of the reasons for the appearance of alcohol dependence).

Kvass is also nothing more than a natural product of fermentation and contains small doses of ethanol. The consumption of these drinks is unlikely to lead to addiction, there is no evidence for this, but it is capable of developing eating habits.

Drinking culture

Alcoholism itself is not such an ancient diagnosis, although the history of alcoholic beverages goes back to ancient times. If we consider it as a poison, then it is worth remembering that poison in small doses only benefits health. A moderate consumption of alcoholic products:

• trains blood vessels;
• contributes to the inhibition of the aging process;
• increases concentration and reaction rate;
• prevents colds.

We are talking about quality alcoholic beverages, mainly wine and vodka. In addition to ethanol and alkaloids, alcoholic beverages contain naturally occurring antioxidants that are beneficial to health.

Alcoholism cause of death

In the direct sense, alcoholism can kill many years after the decision to take part in the alcohol marathon. Why does propaganda keep saying that the death rate from alcohol is increasing every year? The reason for this is overuse.

1. Poisoning by alcohol and surrogates.
2. Murder and crime.
3. Accidents and accidents.
4. Strokes and heart attacks.
5. Suicide.

According to WHO, alcohol sends more than 2.5 million people to the world every year! Only from alcohol poisoning, Russia annually sees off 0.5 million citizens on their last journey.

A little about the benefits

Branded by medicine and elevated to the status of evil on a universal scale, alcohol, in fact, can be very useful.

Pure vodka is an excellent antioxidant, and it also removes toxins from the lungs of people working in factories where the air is polluted. It has a beneficial effect on digestion, curbing cholesterol levels. It is excellent at lowering blood sugar levels, which is also beneficial for health.

In combination with salt, it copes well with indigestion, with garlic it cleanses blood vessels and improves tone, and with hot pepper it becomes a prophylactic against acute respiratory infections. In addition, many herbal tinctures are made on the basis of alcohol, but at the same time they only benefit health!

Outcome

Summing up, I want to talk about personal observations. My body is very susceptible to alcoholic products, and knowing this feature, I do not abuse its intake. But I cannot deny myself the pleasure of having a glass of cognac or tart wine, or drinking vodka on occasion.

If we consider alcohol solely from the point of view of benefits, you need to clearly understand at what point your blood vessels expanded, you received a positive charge and stop. Try introducing an aperitif into your diet, as it has long been called a glass of alcohol before eating. It not only awakens the appetite, but also prepares the stomach for food!

You will be surprised to learn that moderate drinkers are much less prone to various health disorders than frank teetotalers. And the long-livers of the Caucasus from adolescence use natural wines made from local grape varieties.

Very soon I will write an article about the useful daily intake of alcohol. I'm sure it will be interesting. Subscribe to my blog updates, share useful information on social networks and do not forget to leave comments! Blog vinodela.ru cares about your health!

See you soon, Pavel Dorofeev.

Everyone knows about the dangers of drinking. At the same time, almost nothing is known about its benefits. But in fact, alcohol has long been used in traditional medicine. The hackneyed truth: that in large doses - poison, in small quantities can become a panacea. So, what can be cured with your favorite drinks, and how?

Let's start simple. A chilled decanter, viscous "Aqua Vita", like oil pouring into a tall glass just from the freezer ... The author's big weakness. Or, on the contrary, strength? What will help cure the "ovitis"?

"Whisky is the most popular of all remedies that do not cure colds."

Jerry Weil

It turns out a lot! Pure vodka, in the amount of 25-30 grams per day, is drunk, for example, by people who are forced to breathe polluted air - it removes toxins from the lungs. A small "lunch" stack keeps cholesterol levels down, therefore, theoretically, it can prevent the development of heart and vascular diseases, heart attacks and strokes. Vodka reduces blood sugar levels - the risk of diabetes, respectively, too.

Many classic folk medicines are made from vodka mixtures. In case of indigestion, knowledgeable people advise drinking vodka with salt and / or pepper - a couple of pinches per glass. Garlic tincture will increase the tone, clean the blood vessels and reduce the risk of catching a cold in the winter.

And pepper is traditionally recommended as a remedy for influenza and acute respiratory infections - for this you can use purchased, homemade alcohol or quickly mix ordinary vodka with a mixture of black, red pepper and paprika. Personally, at the first sign of a cold, I drink a glass of such a cocktail before going to bed and in 70% of cases I wake up almost healthy.

Supporters of a sober life are extremely negative about all alcoholic beverages, seeing them as the main evil of mankind. But everything needs a reasonable approach. Is there any benefit of alcohol for the human body, what do scientists think about it?

It is important to note that if alcohol is of any benefit, it is provided that alcohol is consumed in very small doses, taking into account one's own health. Only in this case you can try to find a grain of gold in the "tar bank".

The claim that alcohol in small doses is good for health is actually a myth.

People who promote life without a drop of alcohol argue that any drink containing ethanol, a priori, cannot be beneficial to health. But not all scientists adhere to this position. The results of numerous studies conducted by scientists from different countries suggest that there is still some benefit from drinking alcohol.

Alcohol can only be beneficial if consumed in very small amounts.

It must also be remembered that alcohol must be pure, that is, without the presence of flavors, dyes and other preservatives in its composition. Only in this situation it is possible to speculate what beneficial features alcohol are available. It is known that not a large number of alcohol consumption has a beneficial effect on a person's condition.

What amounts of alcohol are considered safe

With all the richness of alcoholic products, in order to get the desired benefit, the choice should be made on natural grape wine. This drink can really bring some benefits to a person.

What are the benefits of alcohol in small doses

Scientists from the Netherlands, relying on the data of their own research, received the following and rather interesting results. According to them, moderate alcohol consumption brings the following beneficial effects:

1. Decreased death index. This one of important indicators The demographic state of the country for each individual may decrease by about 25-30%. Provided that the amount of alcohol consumed varies between 15-20 g. And, of course, without the absence of chronic diseases in a person.
2. There is a 30-35% reduction in the risk of various pathologies associated with the health of the heart and blood vessels.

Swiss colleagues, studying the effects of alcohol on human body, supplement the opinion of the Dutch with their own remarks. In their opinion, a person who daily consumes small doses of alcohol spends much less money on various medical services than non-drinkers.

Binding Rules

But what does it mean to drink in moderation? What dose would be considered safe and beneficial? According to the same scientists, in order to benefit from such an enjoyable activity as relaxing with alcohol, you should follow these simple rules:

• do not change the selected alcoholic drink;
• observe the same daily dose and do not exceed it;
• It is advisable to drink alcohol only in the morning.

Remember that when using alcohol for healing purposes, you can not feel the feeling of intoxication. That is, do not exceed the allowable volume. An acceptable daily dose of alcohol will be within 20 g of ethanol.

Common myths about alcohol

To determine for yourself a safe dose of alcohol, it should be calculated based on the prescribed 20 g of pure alcohol.

For example, this amount of ethanol is contained in 500 ml of medium-strength beer or 50 ml of natural and preferably homemade wine. But stronger alcohol is desirable to limit to 20-25 ml per day.

As already mentioned, the most healthy option is to drink natural wine made from red grapes. Observing these simple conditions, the benefits of using alcohol for a person will be. Which?

What do fans of this theory promise?

According to the adherents of the idea of ​​the usefulness of alcohol in small doses, a person already after 7-10 days of daily alcohol consumption will feel a beneficial effect. It will be as follows:

1. The headaches will go away.
2. Appetite normalizes.
3. Lethargy and fatigue will go away.
4. Healthy sleep will be restored.
5. Waking up in the morning will become much easier.
6. The body will become more resilient and strong.

This option of therapy is attractive to people, because it turns out that you can drink, and even every day. It is only important not to exceed the dose and not to change the selected alcohol for the entire time. But is it really all that rosy? Arguing about whether there is a benefit of alcohol for the body or not, it is worth getting acquainted with supporters of a different view of such “alcoholic” treatment.

In fact, there are no harmless doses of alcohol.

Alternative opinion

The claim that drinking in small doses has health benefits is actually an overblown myth. Such a statement is made by the vast majority of medical scientists, carefully analyzing the data obtained by foreign colleagues.

There is an opinion that the myth about the benefits of alcohol in small doses was presented to a wide mass of consumers by leading companies producing alcohol.

Recent careful studies prove that the benefits, if any, of minimal doses of alcohol are greatly exaggerated. This is the opinion of medical luminaries working in Britain. More than 50,000 people over the age of 50 took part in their trials.

Research results

The studies were based on figures regarding the causes of death and the amount of alcohol consumed by these people. For study and analysis, scientists used data from a large-scale medical survey conducted in 1999-2008.

In fact, the benefits of small doses of alcohol are a myth.

As a result, it was found that the existing myth that a small dose of alcohol has a beneficial effect on a person, apparently, was based on errors in the analysis of statistical data. Namely, no connection has been established between moderate alcohol consumption and improvement in heart function due to this.

In the course of the latest ongoing research, experts from the American Cardiology Center concluded that even minimal alcohol consumption has an extremely negative effect on human health.

What does alcohol treatment lead to?

On the basis of the data received by the doctors, one fact was established. If a person tries to improve his health with the help of small and regular doses of alcohol, he expects the following:

1. The risk of atrial fibrillation (a type of cardiac arrhythmia) will increase.
2. Alcohol in small doses can lead to an expansion of the volume of the left atrium.

These conclusions were presented to the world by a scientist from the USA, Gregory Markus. A well-known cardiologist, doctor of medical sciences, organized and carried out a large-scale study, which involved about 5,000 people. Volunteers underwent daily ECG of the heart for 5 years. What clearer conclusions can be drawn?

1. Just 10 g of alcohol increased the chance of developing heart disease by 5-6%.
2. Daily consumption of red wine in the amount of 2 glasses significantly harms the work of the heart.
3. With moderate consumption of a dose of alcohol considered safe, there was an increase in the right atrium by 0.15-0.17 mm.

Another experiment was conducted by scientists from the American National Institute for the Study of Alcohol Addiction. Their findings indicate an existing and already proven link between moderate daily alcohol consumption and damage to brain regions, in particular, a significant decrease in this organ.

Some alcoholic beverages are very beneficial for the body and can even be used as medicines in the treatment of diseases. The whole secret of the benefits of alcohol is to use it in small quantities. Uncontrolled drinking of alcoholic beverages is definitely harmful to health.

Doctors' opinions based on various studies

The benefits of alcohol is a topic that still has not lost its relevance. Wine helps to calm down nervous system and is an excellent remedy for insomnia. French doctors believe that its use stimulates the activity of the cardiovascular system. In accordance with the old French tradition, a glass of wine is served with dinner almost every day.

After conducting research and analyzing statistical data, American scientists came to the conclusion that in older people who like to treat themselves to alcoholic beverages, brain activity does not decrease. At the same time, this trend is quite pronounced among the non-drinking contingent. The fact is due to the fact that after drinking the cognitive function of the brain is activated.

Dutch scientists do not lag behind in this area. As a result of a 40-year experiment, they proved that people who consume alcohol daily in acceptable doses are much healthier and their life expectancy is longer.

American scientists have found that moderately drinking people who do not suffer from addiction have an 80% reduced risk of mortality and virtually eliminate the likelihood of a heart attack, which under normal circumstances could occur.

Researchers have confirmed that some wines and beers are antioxidants, help lower cholesterol, thin the blood, improve vascular health, and prevent gallstones from forming.

But, according to Americans, people who drink alcohol have too much risk of becoming addicted to alcohol, in which there can be no talk of any benefit. That is why this topic is still the subject of controversy and discussion.

Doctors have no right to advise their patients to drink alcohol as a preventive measure. Women drink much faster than men, so when deciding whether to drink alcohol for the purpose of recovery, they should be more vigilant.

About the dangers of alcohol

It is worth noting that the human body gradually gets used to alcohol, and the need to increase the amount of alcohol consumed leads to the development of alcoholism. All alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which destroys brain cells and liver, causing gastrointestinal diseases. The result of regular drinking of alcoholic beverages in large quantities are ulcers, gastritis, impaired secretion and other problems with the digestive system.

In addition, alcoholism poses a social threat to society. This disease causes the degradation of personality.

The main danger is that alcohol acts on a person slowly. Many people do not notice how they begin to drink too much, and for a long time they believe that they do not go beyond the norm. That is why alcohol should not be abused, otherwise, instead of benefit, you can harm your health.

The effect of alcohol on the body: a useful factor

There is no safe alcohol. The use of any dose of it leads to functional changes in individual systems and organs. In medicine, there is such a thing as a factor in the usefulness of alcohol. If you use alcohol in moderation, then its beneficial properties become predominant.

Alcohol dilates blood vessels, which then return to normal. With excessive use of strong drinks, they narrow. Drinking alcohol in a small amount has a beneficial effect on the activity of the heart muscle, while ethanol is successfully processed by the liver and has time to be neutralized.

In moderate drinkers, brain tissue is not damaged, that is, its structure remains the same. People are not at risk of depression and mental disorders accompanied by hallucinations and memory lapses.

A small amount of alcohol can liberate a person. It will not cause inhibition in the brain and will not affect the speed of information perception. The reaction is the opposite of that which occurs in the case of alcohol abuse.

A small portion of wine will increase your appetite and speed up the digestion of food. The stomach will cope with the additional load, and poisoning of the body will not occur. The liver will promptly process all the harmful compounds that have entered the bloodstream, including ethanol, and cleanse the body of toxins.

Moderate consumption of alcohol-containing beverages lowers blood cholesterol levels, prevents the formation of blood clots, and stimulates blood circulation. It is known that drinking people, even after a heart attack, have a chance to live longer than absolute teetotalers. The mortality rate in older people who drink alcohol is 52% lower than in those who do not drink at all.

Alcoholic drinks are a prophylactic for diseases such as:

• stress;
• cold;
• decrease in brain activity;
• hypertensive heart disease;
• angina;
• malignant tumors;
• polyps;
• diabetes mellitus of any type;
• renal pathologies: tumors;
• osteoporosis.

Scientists have found that alcohol strengthens bones and actively contributes to weight loss. It can be concluded that alcoholic beverages are beneficial for the psyche.

What is the healthiest alcoholic drink?

Alcoholic drinks are classified according to the degree of usefulness.

Wine

The most useful alcoholic drink is red grape wine.

Grapes are rich. It contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals, tannins, antioxidants and organic acids. Grape wine is used to prevent colds, gastrointestinal disorders, development oncological diseases, anemia, to strengthen the immune system. Moderate consumption of this drink improves heart function and has a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system.

Red wine slows down the entry of glucose into the bloodstream, as a result of which insulin in the blood does not rise. The drink is good for the sick diabetes. During the manufacturing process, all useful components are preserved in its composition.

Champagne

Another alcoholic drink that scientists believe is the healthiest is champagne. The raw material for its manufacture is grapes.

Champagne improves the quality of memory, stimulates brain activity and has a positive effect on skin condition. This drink rejuvenates the body and is an excellent tool for the prevention of the cardiovascular system.

There are few absolute teetotalers among our contemporaries. Most often, people refuse alcohol due to serious health problems, sometimes due to a certain life position or the requirements of religion.

Among those who from time to time allow themselves to "use", there are many people who believe that alcohol can well improve their health. The benefits of alcohol - myth or truth?

Is there any medical evidence that can strengthen the supporters of the opinion about the positive effects of alcohol on the body in their belief? Or are the skeptics who call alcohol a poison right?

Once (this was in the 20th century, when discussions about the effects of alcohol on humans were already in full swing), doctors from the Dutch city of Zuften decided to conduct an experiment. It was long, covering 4 decades and 1373 people.

For forty years, scientists have observed the lives of people who have different attitudes to alcohol and recorded changes in their health. The mortality rate in each of the groups was analyzed: the one that completely abstained from any alcohol-based drinks, the one that drank moderately and the group that drank "just a little".

It turned out the following:

• Moderate drinkers were much less likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than those who did not drink at all (by 34%).
• Among those who drank no more than 20 g of alcohol per day, the mortality index was reduced by 38% compared with teetotalers.

Is there any benefit from alcohol?

Analyzing the results, scientists suggested that alcoholic beverages can help the body become stronger and withstand more noticeable loads.

If you combine vodka with herbs, you will get wonderful tinctures. So, with a sore throat, it is often necessary to rinse with vodka with, when coughing, drink tincture of honey (no more than 20 g of vodka at a time). eliminates the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases.

If you get sick (that is, you feel the first signs of a cold, but there is no temperature yet), drink a glass of vodka with honey or a piece of red hot pepper and go to bed. By morning, the disease will subside.

Balms

Balms are a kind of drugs made on an alcohol basis with the addition of extracts of many useful plants. Fortress balm - from 40 0 ​​and above. Famous balms, the positive effect of which on the body is recognized even by official medicine:

• "Riga black";
• "Bittner";
• "Becherovka";
• "Unique";
• "Karelian";
• "Gorno-Altai".

These drinks stimulate the immune system, have an analgesic effect, perfectly tone up. Some have a choleretic effect, others have an antispasmodic effect (depending on which components are included in the balm).

Drink these drinks in an amount of no more than 30 ml at a time. Most often consumed after meals, pouring a little into tea or coffee.

You can periodically take a teaspoon a day for the prevention of painful conditions.

Wine and beer

Wine, especially red wine, perfectly cleans the vessels. It helps the vessels to remain elastic, normalizes blood circulation. Red wine is believed to prevent some forms of cancer. Curiously, wine helps keep weight at the desired level: women who are used to drinking about 1-2 glasses a day usually do not get better.

(of course we are talking about a quality drink) helps to “wash out” the sand from the kidneys, relieves stress. Beer "knows how" to remove aluminum salts from the body, which, when accumulated, lead to dangerous diseases. Light bitterness stimulates appetite, which allows you to recover faster after long-term illnesses.

They also say that beer prevents premature aging. True, this statement cannot yet be called a scientifically proven fact.

Interesting: almost all alcoholic beverages in small doses stimulate the production of hormones, in particular estrogen, which supports the bone apparatus. In addition, anyone who has experience of "drinking" will agree with the statement that alcohol improves mood and perfectly calms.

So in small doses, alcoholic beverages are really useful. But moderation is very important here. "Drink, but understand the matter!" says folk wisdom. Let's not deny ourselves the joy of sometimes drinking wine or brandy, but let this warning always be ready in the mind. Then alcohol will bring real benefits!