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What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a clear
drink that is made
from corn, barley,
grain, rye, or a
beverage containing
ethyl.
Alcohol is a central
nervous system
depressant. In other
words, it is a drug
that slows down the
nervous system.
How is it made?
Beer and wine are called
fermented beverages. They
are made by adding yeast to a
substance that contains sugar.
The yeast starts the formation
process, which turns sugar into
ethyl and carbon dioxide gas.
Another type of alcoholic
beverage is called a distilled
beverage. That is made from
fermented grain mash or
fermented juice. Distilled
beverages include drinks such as
whiskey, vodka, liqueurs, gin,
rum, and other beverages.
What happens when
alcohol enters the body?
alcohol is technically a food because
it supplies a concentrated number
of calories, but they are empty
calories - no nutrients, just calories.
Lots of calories. Alcohol is fattening!
95% of alcohol - absorbed through
the stomach wall
moves through the bloodstream into
the heart and increases the heart
rate
It immediately travels to
your brain. Once there, it
alters:
your response time
your motor
responses
your reflexes
your balance
your muscle control
your judgment
your ability to delay
or inhibit your
words or actions
your emotions
Alcohol has four stages
when it reaches the brain.
Whether the
drinker moves to
any stages
beyond number
one depends on
how much and
how fast he/she
drinks
Stages:
1. It stimulates and
produces a sense
of euphoria
2. It depresses and
sedates, producing
calmness
3. It anaesthetizes
4. It induces a
hypnotic state and
sleep
After the brain, the alcohol
moves into the muscles and
impairs reflexes and muscle
coordination (in direct proportion
to the amount of alcohol that has
been consumed.)
The alcohol next moves into the
liver.
Only 5% of alcohol is eliminated
from the body through the
breath, urine or sweat.
The rest, 95%, is broken down in
the liver.