Moderate Alcohol Use-Benefits

Yes, you read that right-benefits. The word of the day is moderation. It is in the fine balance of moderation that the benefits outweigh the risks. Evidence based studies have revealed that there are several positive effects from having 1 serving of alcohol per day, which is considered moderate drinking.



Before you ask, no it doesn't count to save up the whole week and drink all 7 servings in one night! While we're at it, what is considered a serving? Below is an estimation for alcohol content in beer, wine and liquor.



Of course, the rules are different for those with addictive personalities. Gout suffers also have a different outcome. It turns out that alcohol consumption may increase uric acid levels according to an article from Boston University of Medicine on studies of the subject. http://www.bu.edu/alcohol-forum/reviews/

Other studies show that there may be an increase of cancer risk with consumption for those with cancer risks and heavy drinkers. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/alcohol

 For those of us who enjoy a glass of wine or a beer on occasion but could just as easily live without it and have no or few predisposing risk factors for disease, there are proven benefits.

Heart Attacks and Stroke 

So far, the research has documented that the biggest pro to moderate drinking (especially red wine due to it's antioxidant content) is a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease-heart attack.

• raises HDL (good cholesterol)
• acts as blood thinner, aiding in prevention of blockages in arteries

Diabetes

• shows to increase insulin sensitivity
• may lower blood glucose levels overall

Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

• drink per day slow the progression of dementia & deterioration of the brain http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/MedicalReports/Other/20070705130849.html#.UtqsyxAo7IU
• antioxidants in Red Wine protect the brain http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/services_info.php?serviceID=5
• Moderate drinking may actually improve memory  http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/HealthIssues/20071025202420.html#.UtquKhAo7IV

Immune System

• acts as anti-inflammatory
• may improve immune response    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270379.php

Mortality Rate

According to a recent article from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with research conducted by Patrick M. Krueger, PhD, recent findings suggest that mortality rates are lower for moderate drinkers than heavy drinker or non-drinkers

"Prior research has documented that both heavy drinkers and nondrinkers have higher risks of premature death than their peers who drink in moderation."  

http://www.rwjf.org/en/blogs/human-capital-blog/2013/08/alcohol_and_lifeexp.html

Bottom Line

What alcohol does to the body-

As with anything in life, the old saying "More is better" is definitely is not true. Excessive drinking can cause higher risk for heart major or even fatal accidents, heart attacks, liver disease, increased risk of cancer, depression and damaged or failed relationships.

 Even the Bible speaks of wine intake and the benefits of moderation. 

Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Timothy 5:23 Amplified Bible  (wine may have been considered medicinal according to NLT study notes)

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. – Philippians 4:5 NKJV

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. – 1 Corinthians 9:25a NKJV

Endorphins-Good for More than a Natural High

http://ichoseanaturalhigh.tumblr.com/

Definition of ENDORPHIN
: any of a group of endogenous (produced or synthesized by the organism) peptides (as enkephalin) found especially in the brain that bind chiefly to opiate receptors and produce some pharmacological effects (as pain relief) like those of opiates. ~ Merriam-Webster


Research in the 1970's was done to see exactly how opiates act in the body to produce pain reduction and even a "high" feeling similar to an elevated mood and increased sense of well being. What was found was that the body naturally has a system for pain control. It's a system of binding agents that bind to pain receptors in the brain to block the pain message impulse. These binding agents are neurotransmitters called endorphins. Endorphins are produced by the central nervous system in response to pain, fear and /or stress. There are 20 different kinds of this neurotransmitter and the most powerful (stronger than Morphine) is called beta-endorphins. Certain things or activities increase these neurotransmitters allowing for decrease in pain and increase in a euphoric feeling and can also give protection from painful/unsafe activity (reaction from the pain of touching a hot stove).


On the flip side, if this system is over-active it can put the fight-or-flight mechanism into overdrive causing increased anger and/or anxiety. Imbalances in this system have also been associated with certain mental disorders.


So, what causes a beneficial increase in these natural pain killers (endorphins)?

exercise
prayer/meditation
controlled breathing (a major component in lamaze technique)
ultraviolet light (being in the sunshine)
aroma therapy
ginseng
laughter
sex
dark chocolate
eating spicy foods
listening to music
loving relationships


It is very important to note that many people have also found the consumption of alcohol to produce the same kind of endorphin increase as with the list above. Those who regularly drink in excess on a regular basis in search of that euphoric feeling could develop an addiction. Please, always be aware of your own personal triggers and limitation. Moderation is key in all things and as always, please drink responsibly.

The Storm Inside

                              

Thank God no one can really read my mind! Especially when I struggle inside to maintain focus and become completely frustrated and angry when it seems to vanish like a puff of smoke! What I feel so strongly is so often never shown to others. No one would understand! How could they when I definitely can't explain it to anyone! How could this continual change of emotional state and mental clarity ever be explained? Instead, there is an attempt to swallow the anger, push the frustration deep down and attempt to show a calm façade on the surface. This façade doesn’t last long before it is blown with a seemingly harmless offense as forgetting where you put your keys or the car! One offense doesn’t seem like much and really isn’t. But when it’s a day of forgetting said key, car (or even your kid’s name), the events stack on top of each other and the frustration only grows. Only so much of this kind of frustration can be pushed down before it erupts into a mini-meltdown!

How We Explain It

Some people say, “It’s like someone else has the ‘controller’ to my brain and keeps changing the channels. Others describe a tornado of thoughts that whirl around in their head so fast they can’t catch one before another comes along. This causes great challenges for remembering things when you need to! A memory problem is not the same thing as a knowledge or intelligence problem. The information is there but recall may or may not be at the given moment! If anyone who experiences this life of frustration tries to explain it to those on the ‘outside’, no doubt they’d probably be looked at like they’re crazy. Trying to make someone understand that this way from day-to-day is routine for some of us and not receive the insane label is hard to do. I can totally see how easily this type of behavior and way of thinking can be misunderstood because it seems so illogical. Truth is, at least for appearance sake, there is nothing logical about it!

What's Really Going On

This condition, which seems to spontaneously turn focus and memory on it’s head is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Many believe that it is just a ‘cop out phrase’ for parents who want to drug their children into well-behaved kids or adults who are just lazy. Those who really have this disorder know the disruption it causes and the energy that it can drain from your life. I don’t believe anyone would choose to live this way. Without warning it can totally disturb the mental balance that allows most people to complete most tasks to disappear. I call these my “on days” and “off days”. There are days when I seem to have endless energy, creativity and productivity. Then, there are days when I drop everything I touch, spend the day searching for everything I need and feel as if I would have trouble finding my way out of my own back yard! Many times the person with ADHD will be her own worst enemy. So,’be patient with yourself’ is often my montra.

Usually, people who have ADHD are the most creative, motivated, funny, likable and highly achieved people you will ever know. Why is this? Because, the creativity that they have during the ‘on-days’ is what they remember to keep them going on those ‘off-days’. Many use a sense of humor (which is also another positive trait common among those with ADHD) to deal with the stress of getting through one on “those days”.

How It Looks

Many see a person with ADHD as someone who “can’t follow through” or “is a slow learner” or lacks motivation. The truth is, the successful ADHD person must be extremely disciplined to achieve their goals. The fact that an ADDer (as I like to call us) can and usually does focus several things at once requires a lot of discipline to finish a project or task. Others see the ADDer as having non-stop energy or someone who can’t slow down (the Hyper part of ADHD). This is true sometimes but there is always a crash eventually. Fatigue follows hyper-focus episodes and can tend to be very frustrating for the ADDer and confusing others. I’ve been asked many times why it can’t just be stopped to make life ‘easier’. The mental processes involved aren’t brought about by ‘descision’ but by chemical pathways in the brain that are different from those without ADHD. Much is still unknown about the brain and how it works as well as how differently people can’t think, learn and recall memories.

To Those Trying to Understand

So, for anyone who has been diagnosed, or just realizing they may have it or know someone who does, there’s one thing to remember that will greatly help the situation. The more patience, compassion and understanding that you can give, even if it’s to yourself, the less stressful the situation is for everyone involved.