Alcohol is a toxic substance
The World Health Organization often reminds us that alcohol consumption is, along with smoking, a major cause of early death.
Alcohol is a toxic substance. It can cause addiction even to a greater extent than many drugs and its consumption, if excessive, can cause even very serious damage to the body, in particular to the liver and brain.
Alcohol is sneaky and takes its toll in many different ways. It is the direct or indirect cause of various diseases: hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, tumors, disability and many other chronic diseases. According to data from the World Health Organization, it causes about 50% of all accidents (domestic, road, workplace, etc.); alcohol, in fact, slows down reflexes and causes vision changes and a reduced perception of danger.
Because it hurts young people more
According to data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (2006), alcohol is the first risk factor for chronic disease, disability and premature mortality in men aged between 15 and 29 years.
In fact, young people are more vulnerable to the damage of alcohol.
Under the age of 16, the enzymes capable of metabolizing alcohol are completely absent; these enzymes reach maturation not earlier than 21 years of age. This means that before the age of 16 alcohol should not be consumed even in moderate quantities, as the body is not yet able to metabolize it. Between the ages of 16 and 21, on the other hand, metabolism is more difficult and slower, so addiction comes first, so alcohol damage to the liver and brain comes with lower doses.
How much alcohol can you consume
Some categories, for example minors up to 15 years and pregnant women, should completely ban the use of alcohol; wine e beer they are no exception. Healthy adult men and women, on the other hand, may benefit from moderate consumption of wine and beer. Yes, but what does moderate consumption mean - concretely? How much can you drink?
The maximum quantities to be taken have not been stable, but it is generally recommended not to exceed two alcohol units per day for the man and one alcohol unit for the woman. In fact, women are able to metabolize about half of alcohol than men.
A alcoholic unit it corresponds more or less to a 125 ml glass of wine with 12 degrees alcohol content or a 33 ml can of beer with 4,5 degrees alcohol content.
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