#uncat 

## Origin
When [[Yeasts|yeasts]] ferment the sugars in [[Carbohydrates|carbohydrate]] foods, they make two byproducts: carbon dioxide and *ethyl alcohol* (aka *ethanol*), the intoxicating ingredient in alcohol beverages.

Alcohol beverages are produced either through fermentation or through a combination of fermentation plus distillation.

### Fermented
Fermentation is a simple process of adding yeasts or bacteria to carbohydrate "starter" foods such as corn, potatoes, rice, or wheat. The liquid is filtered to remove the solids, and water is usually added to dilute the alcohol.

Beer, wine, and kumiss are made this way

### Distilled
![[Pasted image 20241223183715.png]]


## Starter foods
Beverage alcohol can be made from virtually any carbohydrate food, most commonly cereal grains, fruit, honey, molasses, or potatoes

![[Pasted image 20241223183908.png]]

On its own, alcohol provides energy (7 kcal per gram) but no [[Nutrients|nutrients]].

## Alcohol by volume
The label term ABV or Alc/Vol shows the amount of alcohol as a percentage of all the liquid in the container.
*Proof* is an older term used to describe alcohol content - 2 times the ABV.

## Digestion
Alcohol is an **astringent**: that means it has the ability to cause the contractio nof body tissues, which can lead to a tightening effect. This property is primarily due to its dehydrating effects on proteins and tissues, when it comes into contact with skin or mucous membranes, it can cause proteins to denature and coagulate, leading to a sensation of tightness or dryness

- Some alcohol is absorbed through the lining of the mouth and throat, but most spills into your stomach, where [[Digestion|gastric alcohol dehydrogenase]] begins to digest it.
	![[Pasted image 20250204033718.png]]
- Most of the alcohol is absorbed through the **duodenum** (the first part of the small intestine), from which it flows into the liver. There, alcohol dehydrogenase, a similar enzyme, metabolizes the alcohol, which is then converted to energy by a coenzyme called **nictoinamide adenine dinucleotide** (NAD) (which is also used to convert the glucose from [[Carbohydrates|carbohydrates]] into energy), so while NAD is being used for alcohol, glucose conversion grinds to a halt
- The normal, healthy liver can process about **15 g** of pure alcohol (170 - 340 g of **beer**, 140 g of **wine**). The rest flows on to your heart
- In the **heart**, alcohol reduces the force with which the heart muscle contracts. You pump out **slightly** **less** blood for a few minutes, blood vessels relax and so on. The contractions soon return to normal, but the blood vessels **may remain** relaxed and blood pressure lower for as long as half an hour. 
  At the same time, alcohol flows in blood from the heart to the lungs, so your breath **smells** of liquor. After that the newly oxygenated, slightly less alcohol-laden blood flows back through the pulmonary artery to your heart, and up and out through the aorta
  As it circulates in the blood, alcohol raises the level of **HDLs** and makes blood less likely to **clot**
- Alcohol makes blood vessels expand, so you feel **warmer** for a while and you may **flush** and turn pink (for example, **Asians** make less ADH than do Caucasians, so they often experience a characteristic flushing when they drink even small amounts of alcohol). At the same time, tiny amounts of alcohol ooze out through your pores, and your **perspiration** smells of alcohol
- Alcohol is a **depressant**. When it reaches your brain, it slows the transmission of impulses between nerve cells that control your ability to think and move.
  For example, alcohol reduces your brain's production of ***antidiuretic** **hormones***, chemicals that keep you from making too much urine (want to piss then)
- The cycle continues as long as you have alcohol in your blood, i.e. until your liver can manage to produce enough ADH to metabolize all the alcohol you've **consumed**. 
  Most people need an **1** **hr** to metabolize 15 g of pure alcohol, while some may have alcohol circulating in their blood for up to 3 hrs after only one drink.

## Health effects
**Hangover**:
- **Thirsty** because loss of excess water through copious urination
- Your stomach hurts and you're **queasy** because even small amounts of alcohol **irritate** your stomach lining, causing it to secrete extra acid and lots of **histamine**, the same immune system chemical that makes the skin around a mosquito bite red and itchy
- Your muscles **ache** and your head **pounds** because processing alcohol requires NAD - normally used to convert **lactic** **acid** to other chemicals. The extra, unprocessed lactic acid piles up painfully in your muscles

![[Pasted image 20250204040021.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250204040056.png]]