Drink in moderation | the harmful effects of alcohol (part 2)

When do we talk about the use of dangerous alcohol? The limit is lower than you think. In women, consuming more than 6 units of alcohol per week already increases the risk of alcohol dementia. Excessive alcohol consumption (then 28 units per week over a period of 5 years) places women in a very high risk category for developing alcohol dementia.

• Alcohol weakens the body's ability to absorb calcium. The more alcohol you consume, the greater the risk that you will eventually develop a condition such as brittle bones. A persistent lack of calcium leads to a low density of bone mass and this causes the curved and fragile physique that we often associate with old age.

• The brain is also severely affected by the use of alcohol. Anyone who would like to maintain maximum brain function for as long as possible should be careful with excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a neurotoxin (in fact, a type of poison) that can damage the frontal lobes of the brain. Damage to this area causes premature brain aging and Alzheimer's-like symptoms, also known as alcohol dementia. Alcohol dementia could well be a much bigger problem than previously thought. This is mainly because the way in which and the amounts we drink today have drastically changed. We drink more often, more and start earlier.

It's not just total alcohol consumption that counts, but how people drink. A recent Finnish study shows that so-called binge drinking (large amounts of alcohol in one sitting, for example a whole bottle of wine once a month in one evening) already doubles the risk of developing alcohol dementia.

Use alcohol wisely

It is not intended to appear polite or puritanical. For many people, drinking alcohol, a beer on a summer day, or a good glass of wine is a pleasant and enjoyable activity. There is nothing wrong with that. However, it is important to know the dangers so that you can make a good assessment of your own alcohol consumption for yourself. In principle, drinking alcohol fits perfectly into a healthy lifestyle. There are also studies that show that drinking a glass of red wine a day actually has a positive effect on health. Drink and live wisely and the harmful effects of alcohol on the body are neutralized. It's a matter of finding the right balance