Alcohol and Nutrition (cont.)
How is alcohol metabolized?
The nutrients protein, carbohydrates, and fat can be stored in our
bodies, but alcohol cannot. For this reason, it takes priority over everything
else in order to be metabolized; doing so means that all of the other processes that should be taking place are being interrupted. Other nutrients need to be broken up prior to being absorbed, whereas alcohol is absorbed as is.
The enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase begins some of the metabolism of alcohol in
the stomach. Women have less of this enzyme, so alcohol passes through their
stomachs and into their bloodstream quicker than in men. Once alcohol is absorbed,
it spreads rapidly into the body water spaces, so the smaller size and higher
body fat content of women increase its levels. Women metabolize about 10% of the
alcohol ingested, while men metabolize about 30%.
The liver is the primary site for alcohol metabolism. Alcohol is detoxified
and removed from the blood through a process called oxidation. Oxidation
prevents the alcohol from accumulating and destroying cells and organs. A healthy liver oxidizes pure ethanol at the rate of about ¼ to ⅓ of an ounce per hour, which is less than
1 ounce of hard liquor. A small percent of the alcohol is excreted through the lungs and urine, which can be detected in breathalyzers. While being metabolized, alcohol is distributed throughout the body, affecting the brain and other tissues. Within minutes of being ingested, alcohol reaches the brain and initially gives the temporary impression of being a stimulant. Alcohol goes on to act as a depressant and a sedative, producing a sense of calm. It will also act as an anesthetic and hypnotic.
When you drink alcohol, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) will rise
rapidly. Within five minutes of having a drink, there's enough alcohol in your
blood to measure. The BAC is determined by how quickly alcohol is absorbed,
distributed, metabolized, and excreted. The following factors can influence the
BAC:
- gender,
- race,
- food consumed,
- chronic alcohol consumption,
- drinking pattern, and
- medications.
The consumption of one standard drink will result in a peak in BAC within 35
to 45 minutes. A 150-pound person with normal liver function metabolizes about 7 to
14 grams of alcohol per hour, which is approximately 100 to 200 mg/kg of body
weight per hour. This is comparable to 8 to 12 ounces of beer or half of an
alcoholic drink. Controlling the rate of consumption will give your liver time
to metabolize the alcohol and limit your BAC. Once you stop drinking, your blood
alcohol level decreases by about 0.01% per hour. You are legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.8. Time is the only way to eliminate alcohol from your system, so cold showers and coffee will not sober you up. Trying to get someone who is drunk to feel and appear more alert can cause a false sense of sobriety and result in many problems.
Next: Does alcohol impact your weight? »
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