Alcohol and Nutrition
By Jennifer Rudd
Nutrition Final   

Pers 2430

December 11,2002

8-10am

Table Of Contents

Alcohol----- 5

Scientific Definition of Alcohol- 6

Nutrition- 7

Types of Alcohol- 8

Alcohol and Nutrition- 9

Alcohol and Calories- 10

Nutrition and Food- 11

Alcohol and The body- 12

Alcohol and Glucose- 13

Alcohol and Its Effects- 14

Alcohol-Energy Source?- 15

You are what you drink—16

Most Common Vitamins Depleted and its Effects—17

Nutrients Affected- 18

Alcohol and Teens- 19

Alcohol and Statistics- 20

Bibliography—21

Alcohol

n     Alcohol is a colorless volatile flammable liquid derived from fermentation of sugars and starches and used as solvents and in drugs and intoxicating beverages.

 

Scientific Definition of Alcohol     

      Any of a series of hydroxyl compounds, the simplest of which are derived from saturated hydrocarbons, have the general formula CnH2n+1OH and include ethanol and methanol to equal C2H5OH

Nutrition

n      The process by which a living organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and tissue replacement.

n      Plays an important role in both emotional and physical health

n      Nutrients are essential for normal body functions.

Types of Alcohol

       Ethyl Alcohol

    present in beer, wine, spirits, and liqueurs.

       Most popular drug

 

 

       Methyl Alcohol

   found in solvents, paint removers, and antifreeze.

        is poison and should not be consumed.

Alcohol and Nutrition

§    Alcohol is important to nutrition because:

§  It provides energy
§  Its ingestion affects many nutrients      

§     High source of energy. Provides 7 calories per gram

§     Referred to as source of empty calories

Alcohol and Calories

      Has no nutritive value other than providing energy and is considered empty calories

      Energy is dependent upon percentage of alcohol it contains

Nutrition and Food

§    Serves two purposes: to provide energy and maintain body structure and function

§    Food supplies the body with building blocks needed to replace worn cells.

§    Alcoholics often eat poorly which limits essential nutrients and interferes with processes.

Alcohol and the Body

n      Inhibits breakdown of nutrients by decreasing enzymes

n      Damages cells lining the stomach and intestines.

n      Prevents nutrients from being fully utilized.

n      Disables transport of nutrients to blood

Alcohol and Glucose

n      Impairs mechanisms by which the body controls glucose levels

n      Can lead to increased or decreased blood sugar.

n      Leads to depletion of stored sugar and inhibits formation of amino acids

n      Brain is deprived of glucose needed for energy and functions.

Alcohol and Its Effects

n     Metabolizing alcohol requires nutrients

n     The liver decreases supply of nutrients making blood stream replenish it

n     Body cells are deprived and body functions are alter.

n     Studies suggest modest consumption of alcohol may reduce cancer and stroke.

 

Alcohol –Energy Source?

l   Considered an energy source

l   The body uses energy from alcohol in a very complex way

l   Provides 20% of the calories in the diet of drinking Americans

l   People tend to lose weight indicating less energy used from alcohol.

You are what you drink

n     Alcohol affects the entire body.

n     Drains the body’s storage of critical vitamins and nutrients.

n     Produces complex problems.

Most Common Vitamins Depleted and its Effects

    Vit. B- harms the heart and liver

    Vit. A- reduced disease resistance

    Vit. C- leads to anemia and fatigue.

    Zinc- apathy, lack of appetite

    Iron- chronic iron deficiency

    Niacin-anxiety, depression, fatigue

 

Nutrients Affected

n     Vitamins A,C,D,K,B6,B12

n     Thiamine

n     Riboflavin

Deficiency of these vitamins can lead to malnutrition and death.

Alcohol and Teens

n     Results in learning impairments.

n     Behavior problems

n     Poor family relationships

n     Violence

n     Hyperactivity

Alcohol Statistics

      One in 30 second grade students have tried alcohol.

      One out of 20 high school seniors drink on a regular basis

      Two thirds of senior high school students drink on a daily basis

      10,000 young people are killed every year.

Bibliography

n      www.teen-anon.com

n      www.bbc.co.uk/health/nutrition/drinks_alocohol (picture slide 10&14.)

n      www.graysonnutrition.com

n      Alcohol: How Drinking Affects Health and Nutrition, Catalog #120, Christina Dye page 120

n      www.factsontap.com (Picture Slide 11&17)

 

The End