Little Known Facts About Alcohol
You may be familiar with the substance, but did you know these lesser known facts about alcohol? Take a peek and impress your friends later.
1. The world’s oldest know recipe is for beer.
2. Alcohol is a depressant – and an antidepressant, albeit briefly. In modest amounts, alcohol can provide feelings of euphoria, well-being, and relaxation, which is probably why half the population in the United States consumes alcohol. It also has an evil twin, and can cause some people to become angry or depressed while under its influence. Individuals who are dependent on alcohol may also suffer from long-term emotional and psychological issues.
3. If you are intoxicated, drinking coffee will only make you wide-awake drunk. It will not help you to sober up at all.
4. Alcohol dissipates from the body at a rate of about .015% blood alcohol content (BAC) per hour. Gender, age, and weight do not affect this dissipation rate – only time.
5. Alcohol has no effect on brain cells. In fact, some alcohol consumption may even help the brain. Researchers have found that red wine can prevent the onset of dementia in old age. However, people who drink large amounts of alcohol for long periods of time can develop serious mental impairment.
6. The easiest and most convenient way to keep track of your alcohol level is by using a breathalyzer. Professional Grade BACtracks deliver police-grade accuracy and consistency for those who need the most reliable results.
7. A "standard drink" of beer, wine, or liquor each contains the same volume of alcohol. Standard drinks are measured as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
8. Advertising of alcoholic beverages does not promote or result in alcohol abuse. Researchers have found that alcohol advertising merely strengthens the brand recognition of advertised alcoholic beverages.
9. Alcohol tolerance can indicate the onset of, or an existing dependency on alcohol. “Lightweight” drinkers may have a hidden advantage over people who seem to have a higher tolerance of alcohol in that sense.
10. Men who drink moderate amounts of alcohol have fewer problems with erectile function than men drink excessively – or don’t drink at all. A medical research institute in Western Australia reports that 30% of men studied who consumed up to four drinks a day for up to five days a week enjoyed a "favorable association" with positive erectile function (ED). Weekend drinkers and binge drinkers also experienced lower rates of ED than those who drank one day a week or less, according to the research.
11. Although alcohol has caloric value, research has shown that alcohol consumption does not result in significant weight gain in men and is even associated with modest weight loss in women. A study by the Journal of Nutrition found that beer drinkers, on average, had no more body fat than non-drinkers. Lifestyle and genetics are more likely to cause weight gain than alcohol.