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| Alcohol | |
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Alcohol can be good for you - in moderation. Before the provision of safe water supplies, alcohol was the main drink in many societies. But there are recommended limits! The recommendation is to drink no more than 4 units of alcohol per day and have a couple of alcohol-free days during the week. The weekly maximum for a man is 21 units, and for a woman 14 units. A unit of alcohol is roughly equal to a glass of wine, half a pint of beer or lager (not strong ones), a glass of sherry or a pub measure of spirits. If you are drinking more than 40 - 50 units a week, you are likely to be heading for trouble. It is safest to avoid regular alcohol during pregnancy. Even a moderately high alcohol intake at this time can cause damage to the baby, as a result of a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. A certain amount alcohol is good for you, however. By drinking 2 or 3 units of alcohol per day, you are actually at a lower risk of developing heart disease than if you drink no alcohol. Although it was initially thought that this applied solely to red wine, it is now believed to be a property of other types of alcohol as well, although red wine still seems to offer more benefit. However, the more you drink above this, the more at risk you become of developing heart and liver disease. |
