Advantages and Disadvantages Of Alcohol

Alcohol:

Alcohol is a colourless volatile flammable liquid which is produced by the natural fermentation of sugars and is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel. However alcohol has many meanings.

The truth is that no one needs alcohol to live, alcohol is not essential in our diets. Depending on your health, age and the amount that you consume there may be some added health benefits. Alcoholic beverages primarily consist of water, alcohol (ethanol), and different amounts of sugar. The calories come from the alcohol and sugar and are considered “empty calories” because of the lack of the other essential nutrients. It’s something that you may choose to add to your diet, but it’s not something that you need in it.

Preparation Of Alcohol:

Alcohol, also known as ethanol, is made through a process called fermentation. Ethanol is colourless. During fermentation, yeast breaks sugar down into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This process is done without any air present and once complete, the carbon dioxide gas bubbles out into the air, leaving ethanol and water behind. Distilled spirits, such as vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey are fermented and then distilled to separate the ethanol from the water.

Various sources of sugar are used in these processes, resulting in different forms of alcohol. The sugar from crushed grapes is used to make wine, malted barley is used to make beer, sugar cane or molasses makes rum, grain, potatoes, beets, molasses, and a variety of other plants are used to make vodka.

Whisky:

Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically stored in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak.

Advantages Of Whiskey:

This applies only when the whiskey is taken in limited quantity or as recommended.

  • Lowers Risk of Heart Disease: According to multiple studies, a glass of whisky a day can help reduce your risk of heart disease and heart failure.
  • Can Help Fight Cancer.
  • Promotes Weight Loss.
  • Reduce Stress.
  • Control of Diabetes Risk.
  • Lower Risk of Dementia.
  • Fight Your Cold.
  • Digestive Aid.

Disadvantages Of Whiskey:

These happen when whiskey is consumed for long time with heavy drinking.

  • Cardiovascular diseases.
  • Liver disease.
  • Respiratory infections.
  • Cancer.
  • Nerve Damage.
  • Ulcers.

Vodka:

Vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol, but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally it is made by distilling the liquid from cereal grains or potatoes that have been fermented, though some modern brands use fruits or sugar as the base. Vodka can also help lower your cholesterol. It’s also generally considered a lower-calorie alcohol as it helps in monitoring the weight.

Standard vodkas have been 40% alcohol by volume. The European Union has established a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% for vodka .

Advantages

  • Disinfectant, Antitoxin, And Antiseptic
  • Stress Reducer
  • Hair & Skin Enhancer
  • Heals Arthritis
  • Reduces Risk Of Diseases
  • Reduces Hypertension

Disadvantages

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach upset
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Distorted vision and hearing

Wine:

Wine is an alcoholic drink  made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol, carbon dioxide, and heat. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different styles of wine.

Wines are not made from grapes involve fermentation of additional crops including, rice wine and other fruit wines include plum, cherry and pomegranate etc.

Advantages:

  1. Gut microbiome and cardiovascular health. Resveratrol may improve heart health in various ways.
  2. Raising levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
  3. Heart health and type-2 diabetes.
  4. Healthy blood vessels and blood pressure.
  5. Brain damage after stroke.
  6. Preventing vision loss.
  7. Preventing colon cancer.
  8. Preventing breast cancer

Disadvantages:

Wine consumption may have some health benefits, but drinking too much of any kind of alcoholic drink increases the risk of:

  • Addiction.
  • Depression.
  • Mental health problems.
  • Cardiomyopathy.
  • Arrhythmias.
  • Stroke.
  • Hypertension.
  • Fatty liver.

Beer:

Beer is one of the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drinks in the world. It is also the third most popular drink after water and tea. Beer is brewed from cereal grains most commonly from malted barley, though wheat, maize (corn), and rice are also used. During the brewing process, fermentation of the starch sugars in the wort produces ethanol and carbonation in the resulting beer.

Advantages:

  • Beer is more nutritious than other alcoholic drinks.
  • can help protect your heart.
  •  Helps prevent kidney stones.
  •  Lowers bad cholesterol.
  •  Strengthens your bones.
  •  Helps reduce stress.
  •  May help improve memory.
  •  Helps cognitive function.

Disadvantages:

  • Interferes With The Blood Sugar Level
  • Weight Gain
  • Next Day Illness
  • Gluten
  • Heartburn
  • Liver Damage