Alcohol

ALCOHOL
About two thirds of American men and one half of women drink alcohol occasionally. In moderation, alcohol has been part of a traditional diet. In populations eating substantial amounts of animal food, it can protect against some forms of heart disease (though it can contribute to others as well as breast cancer, colon cancer, and other malignancies). However, the abuse of alcohol is a major problem in modern society and associated with a wide range of personal, family, and social disorders and dependencies. About 3 to 5 percent of men and 1 percent of women are alcoholic. See American Cancer Society, Kuzu, Natto, Pancreatic Cancer, Soy Foods, Violence, Wine. .

• Alcohol Acts as Both a Depressant and a Stimulant - “It produces effects that mimic those of many other drugs, such as opium, cocaine, Valium, and ether,” writes health researcher Stephen Braun. Because all blood from the digestive organs is shunted to the liver, it particularly affects that organ. Other effects include depressing brain function by interfering with a type of ion channel critical for the firing of neurons; impairing the brain’s ability to store new memories; and reducing reaction times and impairing coordination, thereby increasing the risk of accidents, especially while driving. Because it passes through the placenta barrier, alcohol can affect the embryo and lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. It also has an adverse effect on male sperm.
On the plus side, alcohol increases the receptivity of GABA receptors, reducing anxiety; boosts dopamine levels, producing a brief period of heady stimulation; releases endorphins, the body’s painkillers that give a “natural high”; and boosts levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, also associated with increasing self-confidence and motivation.
Source: Stephen Braun, Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996).

• Animal Food Creates Cravings for Alcohol - In traditional Far Eastern medicine, alcohol is classified as extremely yin, and its abuse results from an overly yang condition, usually the result of a diet high in meat, poultry, eggs, and other animal foods, as well as too much salt and excessive baked foods. Change to a diet centered on grains and vegetables reduces cravings for alcohol.
Source: Michio and Aveline Kushi, Macrobiotic Diet, (Tokyo and New York: Japan Publications, 1993).

• Chinese Medicines Control Alcohol - Traditional Chinese medicines used to treat arthritis, diabetes, and stomach disorders route alcohol away from the bloodstream, according to Japanese pharmacists. In animal studies, the bark and root cortex of the angelica tree, the plant ovary of the soapberry, the seeds of the camellia and horse chestnut, and the roots of the seneca snakeroot appeared to trap alcohol and transport it to the large intestine without absorption into the bloodstream, the scientists told the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society.
"No matter how much you drink, you would not get drunk," Masayuki Yoshikawa of Khyoto Pharmaceutical University said. "If you consume this before you have alcohol . . . the blood alcohol will not increase, in fact, it will decrease."
Source: "Ancient Remedies Found to Detour Alcohol from Blood," undated article circa 1995.

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