The health effects of 1 - 2 drinks daily

[Peater]

When I visited Mexico a lot of people recommended Don Julio. I drank it neat like I would with a whisky.

Cheers!

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

When I visited Mexico a lot of people recommended Don Julio. I drank it neat like I would with a whisky.

I drank that too and it was a favorite! I narrowed it down to my favorite two, but Don Julio would be a top 10 contender :)

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

I drank that too and it was a favorite! I narrowed it down to my favorite two, but Don Julio would be a top 10 contender :)

It is more telling tasting favorites side by side.

 

[DankMemes]

What do you guys think of Bacardi white rum? it is a clear spirit made from sugar/molasses as opposed to fermented grains.

I find a small amount of alcohol makes me very warm and feels pro-metabolic - deep sleep and lowers anxiety.... seems like it is a very usable form of energy. Too much is obviously harmful.

I tread with caution though, seems like a slippery slope to alcoholism

 

[Jack Earth]

What do you guys think of Bacardi white rum? it is a clear spirit made from sugar/molasses as opposed to fermented grains.

I find a small amount of alcohol makes me very warm and feels pro-metabolic - deep sleep and lowers anxiety.... seems like it is a very usable form of energy. Too much is obviously harmful.

I tread with caution though, seems like a slippery slope to alcoholism

Bacardi is cool.. I know that shamans use rum in their rituals. I've been going for ciders made from organic apples or pineapples.
Also frozen margarita with watermelons or strawberry. So far haven't had a single side effect.
Its the social drinking with friends that can easily up your quantity to 3 or more.
Those nights should be rare and you'll probably feel some side effects those nights.

 

[Bluemachine]

Every tonic water I checked has citric acid in it. Which one are you drinking?

I noticed this too. Gin and tonic pre -made drinks don't state that they contain citric acid but I wonder if this is because they don't have to label the ingredients of the ingredients. I'd like to try some but I know from experience citric acid is not to be messed with

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

What do you guys think of Bacardi white rum? it is a clear spirit made from sugar/molasses as opposed to fermented grains.

I find a small amount of alcohol makes me very warm and feels pro-metabolic - deep sleep and lowers anxiety.... seems like it is a very usable form of energy. Too much is obviously harmful.

I tread with caution though, seems like a slippery slope to alcoholism

I have tried them all, and when I go somewhere and they don't have a high end white tequila I just have water.

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

I have tried them all, and when I go somewhere and they don't have a high end white tequila I just have water.

A couple of drinks doesn't create alcoholism, it really is the personality. I have known many alcoholics and usually they are "moody" or have other vices; smoking, porn, promiscuous behavior, gambling, late sleepers going to bed and waking up, food addictions, etc.

 

[Orome]

The only alcoholic beverage I drink nowadays is occasionally Gin & Tonic. I really like the taste and it makes me feel good (if not overdoing it of course). In the past I enjoyed red wine when having dinner but I clearly had negative symptoms from it which is why I stopped it completely.
Gin Tonic on the other hand feels somehow "right" - I cannot even explain why - and that was definitely before I even knew that the quinine in tonic water is probably anti-serotonergic. But the most important thing - keep it slow and don't overdue.

 

[mrchibbs]

The only alcoholic beverage I drink nowadays is occasionally Gin & Tonic. I really like the taste and it makes me feel good (if not overdoing it of course). In the past I enjoyed red wine when having dinner but I clearly had negative symptoms from it which is why I stopped it completely.
Gin Tonic on the other hand feels somehow "right" - I cannot even explain why - and that was definitely before I even knew that the quinine in tonic water is probably anti-serotonergic. But the most important thing - keep it slow and don't overdue.

Same exact feeling. G&T makes me feel plain good, whereas I never felt that way with wine or beer.

1 drink is my sweet spot. 2 sometimes when I'm feeling like it.

 

[Bluemachine]

Same exact feeling. G&T makes me feel plain good, whereas I never felt that way with wine or beer.

1 drink is my sweet spot. 2 sometimes when I'm feeling like it.

do you feel any negatives the morning after? Had half a g&t early in the day yesterday (first drink for years), small amount, not really enough to feel drunk. Interestingly it was actually an hour or so after that I felt the best. My chronic anxiety almost disappeared & I felt really sharp cognitively, lasted all the way until sleep so like 10 or so hrs at least but woke up a bit nauseas and don't feel so sharp today, anxiety back a little. could just be because I got woken up early.

 

[MyUsernameHere]

I like Jägermeister . I take a shot maybe once a month. Usually if I'm having stomach issues. Really helps for that.

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

do you feel any negatives the morning after? Had half a g&t early in the day yesterday (first drink for years), small amount, not really enough to feel drunk. Interestingly it was actually an hour or so after that I felt the best. My chronic anxiety almost disappeared & I felt really sharp cognitively, lasted all the way until sleep so like 10 or so hrs at least but woke up a bit nauseas and don't feel so sharp today, anxiety back a little. could just be because I got woken up early.

You won't have that "little nauseaa" feeling the next day with the white tequila. That is why I will never go back to vodka, beer or wine. Every friend or family member who heeded my advice to do the tequila switch have been amazed!

 

[OccamzRazer]

You won't have that "little nauseaa" feeling the next day with the white tequila. That is why I will never go back to vodka, beer or wine. Every friend or family member who heeded my advice to do the tequila switch have been amazed!

I've always been a red wine person, but your testimonials here have convinced me to give white tequila a try on the next go round!

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

I try to make my tequila as "Peaty" as possible. Here are a few suggestion I have created.

 

[mrchibbs]

do you feel any negatives the morning after? Had half a g&t early in the day yesterday (first drink for years), small amount, not really enough to feel drunk. Interestingly it was actually an hour or so after that I felt the best. My chronic anxiety almost disappeared & I felt really sharp cognitively, lasted all the way until sleep so like 10 or so hrs at least but woke up a bit nauseas and don't feel so sharp today, anxiety back a little. could just be because I got woken up early.

I generally feel great the next day, but I need to drink during happy hour, not later. Drinks later in the evening affect my sleep and can give me symptoms the next day.

I always feel terrible if I don't get my full sleep, so that probably explains your experience.

 

[PeskyPeater]

Impact of alcohol use on thyroid function

Alcohol is one of the commonest illicit psychoactive substances consumed globally and is the world's third largest risk factor for disease and disability. It has been reported to have multiple effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis and the ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of alcohol on the HPT axis is significant and alcohol consumption affects almost all aspects of the functioning of the thyroid gland. Given the comorbidity of mood disorders in alcoholism and the relation of mood disorders with hypothyroidism, these findings open up interesting theoretical possibilities to explain the increased occurrence of mood disorders in alcoholism. Although current studies have mostly looked into the effect of alcohol on the neuro-endocrine axis, such associations are rarely unidirectional. The altered thyroid levels in withdrawal may adversely affect alcohol abstinence by changing the hormonal milieu in the brain, increasing withdrawal dysphoria, and increasing craving. At present, such studies are few and upcoming, but it creates the possibility of understanding and treating alcohol use disorders from a whole new perspective.

Alcohol, Intestinal Bacterial Growth, Intestinal Permeability to Endotoxin, and Medical Consequences: Summary of a Symposium

This report is a summary of the symposium on Alcohol, Intestinal Bacterial Growth, Intestinal Permeability to Endotoxin, and Medical Consequences, organized by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of Dietary Supplements, and National ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The mechanisms whereby alcohol exposure leads to increased intestinal permeability to endotoxin and subsequent injury to the liver and other organs have been presented in Figure 1. Alcohol exposure can promote the growth of Gram negative bacteria in the intestine which may result in accumulation of endotoxin. In addition, alcohol metabolism by Gram negative bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells can result in accumulation of acetaldehyde, which in turn can increase intestinal permeability to endotoxin. Alcohol-induced generation of nitric oxide may also contribute to increased permeability to endotoxin. Increased intestinal permeability to endotoxin leads to increased transfer of endotoxin from the intestine to the portal vein which carries endotoxin to the liver where it binds to Kupffer cells and initiates a cascade of events leading to TNF-α production and liver injury. Endotoxin that escapes to general circulation may induce injury to other organs. A part of TNF- α produced in the liver may reach to intestine via bile duct or general circulation and further increase intestinal permeability to endotoxin.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/core/lw/2.0/html/tileshop_pmc/tileshop_pmc_inline.html?title=Click on image to zoom&p=PMC3&id=2614138_nihms-69177-f0001.jpg

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

Like everything else alcohol has it's pro's & con's.....

"Epidemiological evidence of the beneficial effects of alcohol

Both case–control and cohort studies have consistently shown that light to moderate drinkers are at lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death than non drinkers [11-20]. Most agree that this declining risk curve can be interpreted as a causal relation, although the strength of the apparent protective effect is still disputed [15]. Many studies report a decline in risk of cardiovascular disease in the range of 25–30% [18]. Several plausible mechanisms for the apparently cardio-protective effect of a light to moderate intake of alcohol have been suggested [21]. The largest of the prospective studies have shown that the effect of alcohol and cardiovascular disease may be modified by age and gender. Hence, two large American studies have shown that the apparent cardio protective effect seems stronger amongst the elderly [11]. Supportive to this is a recent meta-analysis by Corrao et al., which indicated that the apparent cardio protective effect of alcohol is different amongst men and women [18]. Therefore, although the cardio protective effect of a light to moderate alcohol intake is quite well established, based on a large number of epidemiological studies, there are several factors which may influence the strength of the effect.

It has been discussed whether a causal inference between alcohol and coronary heart disease can be drawn from studies using non drinkers of alcohol as the reference category as this group could consist of ‘sick-quitters’, i.e. participants who have been drinking excessively in former times, but stopped as a consequence of ill health. This could explain the higher risk of coronary heart disease within this group, as such participants would be more susceptible to diseases [14, 15]. Corrao et al. found a significant effect modification by study quality. Studies excluding participants with pre-existing disease at baseline and ex-drinkers reported lower protective effect of alcohol on coronary heart disease [17]. Several studies, including the above mentioned meta-analysis by Corrao et al., have reported a J-shaped relation between alcohol intake and coronary heart disease.

Biological mechanismsSerum HDL

Several experimental studies have investigated the physiological effects of alcohol on coronary heart disease. The main protective effect of alcohol intake on coronary heart disease is obtained by increasing the HDL cholesterol in the blood, which is considered inversely related to coronary heart disease [21]. HDL removes cholesterol from the arterial walls, facilitates the transportation back to the liver, thereby protecting against atherosclerosis. A meta-analysis of a large number of experimental studies of the effect of alcohol on physiological mechanisms has found that 17% reduction in coronary heart disease caused by increased HDL directly attributable to the intake of 30 g of alcohol per day. In addition, alcohol is assumed to have an antioxidative effect on LDL, thereby, protecting against the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, a mechanism, however, less supported in the literature.

Fibrinogen and triglycerides

Another important pathway by which moderate alcohol intake reduces the risk of coronary heart disease is through antithrombotic mechanisms, i.e. mechanisms in which the blood is prevented from coagulating. Alcohol has been found to lower the concentration of plasma fibrinogen, thereby, reducing platelet aggregability [22]. In contrast, a positive association between alcohol intake and serum triglycerides have been found and raised levels of triglycerides increase the risk of coronary heart disease; however, serum triglyceride levels are strongly inversely associated with HDL cholesterol and some have suggested that the HDL-cholesterol level explains the association between triglycerides and coronary heart disease.

Hypertension

A high alcohol intake is known to imply a high frequency of hypertension [23]. However, the alcohol-hypertension relation has been described as J-shaped, as a moderate intake of alcohol has been found to cause a short-term lowering of blood pressure. Hypertension per se is a well-known risk factor for coronary heart disease. One known reason that hypertension could lead to a higher risk of coronary heart disease is that it reduces the elasticity of vessels allowing lipids to deposit and thereby leading to thrombosis. Hence, hypertension is considered one of the most important risk factors of coronary heart disease, as results from cohort studies and randomized controlled trials have indicated that a 10 mmHg lowering of systolic blood pressure (or 5 mmHg diastolic blood pressure) leads to a 20% reduction in risk of coronary heart disease.

Diabetes

Diabetes is yet another important risk factor of coronary heart disease closely linked with alcohol intake. The relationship between alcohol and diabetes is considered J-shaped. Several studies have suggested that a moderate alcohol intake leads to decreased insulin resistance and thereby lowers the risk of diabetes [24]. In addition, moderate alcohol intake increases insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscles, which could protect against obesity and diabetes [25]. The risk of coronary heart disease is three-fold in both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death amongst diabetics. The higher risk amongst diabetic patients is partially explained by the abnormal levels of other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity, dyslipidaemia (i.e. low HDL cholesterol and high triglyceride concentrations) and smoking. These factors, however, do not fully explain the elevated risk of coronary heart disease in diabetics, why hyperglycaemia is suspected of having an independent effect on coronary heart disease-risk [25].

Physiological stress

Moderate alcohol intake may be effective in reducing stress. Emotional shock or anger trigger the sympathetic nervous system releasing epinephrine or norepinephrine leading to either a rise in blood pressure and may ultimately lead to cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death [21]. A recent study on the relation between the potential modifying effect of stress on the relation between alcohol and stroke has suggested that moderate alcohol intake associated with lower risk of ischemic stroke amongst highly stressed participants. This finding indicates that stress could also be an important factor involved with the association between alcohol and coronary heart disease [26]."

 

[PeskyPeater]

Alcohol and Gut-Derived Inflammation

Fat​

Studies examining high-fat diets find conflicting results. Some find fats propagate alcohol’s effects on the intestine, and some find they attenuate alcohol’s harmful effects. The contrast likely reflects the variety of fats found in high-fat foods. Generally, studies seem to support the idea that unsaturated fats increase gut permeability and some kinds of saturated fats are protective.

Studies have examined the effects of several types of saturated fats given as supplements to alcohol-exposed mice. One (Cresci et al. 2014) found that tributyrin, a triglyceride fat found in butter and margarine, prevented alcohol-induced tight-junction disruption, which in turn protects against intestinal hyperpermeability. Another (Chen et al. 2015a) examined saturated long-chain fatty acids (SLCFAs), which are found in coconut oil, peanut oil, and dairy products. The researchers observed that the intestinal bacteria in mice chronically fed ethanol produced far less SLCFAs than mice not fed ethanol, and they also had lower levels of tight-junction proteins. That changed after the researchers gave the ethanol-fed mice SLCFA supplementation. Indeed, the mice given supplementation had higher levels of tight-junction proteins than ethanol-fed mice without supplementation. SLCFA supplements also prevented dysbiosis (Chen et al. 2015a).

Unsaturated fats had less favorable effects. In one study (Kirpich et al. 2012), mice fed alcohol and unsaturated fats had increased fatty liver changes and suppressed mRNA expression of tight-junction proteins compared with mice fed alcohol and saturated fat. These findings suggest that an unsaturated-fat diet in conjunction with chronic alcohol use increases intestinal permeability.

 

[Rinse & rePeat]

“It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing.”

— Abraham Lincoln