In honor of Wine Day on October 14, let’s take a look at the historical significance of alcohol and its impact on human life. Alcohol can provide joy and social bonding, but excessive drinking can harm your health, negatively affecting your liver, digestive system, bones, brain, and more. Moderation is necessary.
October 14 is called “Wine Day” because lovers share a bottle of wine together. Although it originated from the marketing of a Japanese company, its origins can be traced back thousands of years to the festivities of the ancients who worshiped Dionysos, the god of wine. In ancient Greece, wine was an integral part of the festivities in honor of Dionysos, and people would drink to give thanks to the god. As you can see, alcohol is not just a food, but an important symbol and ritual tool throughout history.
Historically, wine has played a particularly important role in Europe. During the Carolingian dynasty in France, it is said that the first phrase taught in foreign language textbooks was “I’ll have a glass of alcohol, please,” making wine an important part of Western culture. The symbolism of alcohol is also evidenced by the fact that at the Last Supper, Jesus turned the wine over to his disciples, saying, “This cup is my blood.” Along these lines, it is said that in medieval Europe, monks would carry wine to escape during times of war. Wine was not just a beverage, but an important symbol of human culture and history.
Alcohol is one of humanity’s greatest inventions and has played an important role in people’s lives. From the earliest days of its existence, people have viewed it as more than just a beverage, but as a substance combined with sacred rituals. Drinking alcohol, celebrating festivals, and sharing intimacy with one another is an ancient and modern tradition. It has also been an important inspiration for people’s culture, art, and literature. Countless writers and artists have been inspired by alcohol to create their work, and this continues to this day.
However, the influence of alcohol is double-edged. While it provides people with pleasure and social bonding, it’s also a well-known fact that it can have negative health effects. In modern society, alcohol has become more than just a part of our diet. It allows people to share a wide range of experiences and emotions, but it also allows them to lose a lot. While alcohol has evolved throughout human history, it”s important to be aware of its negative health effects.
One of the most common areas of the body that alcohol negatively affects is the liver. The liver is the largest organ in the body and plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of nutrients and detoxifying toxins. It also secretes bile, which helps digest and absorb fats, and performs a number of other important metabolic processes. However, excessive alcohol consumption puts a strain on the liver. Alcohol is recognized by the liver as a toxic substance that needs to be processed, which can lead to alcoholic fatty liver, hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis. In fact, it is reported that about 45% of cirrhosis cases are caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
In addition to the liver, alcohol has a negative impact on the entire digestive system. The oral cavity and esophagus are the first areas to come into contact with alcohol, especially when it”s consumed directly without diluting it with water, which can be very irritating to the oral mucosa and esophageal epidermis, causing inflammation. Studies have shown that long-term alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing oral or esophageal cancer by 16 times compared to non-drinkers. This risk can increase depending on the strength and amount of alcohol consumed.
Alcohol is also bad for your bones. Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption interferes with the metabolism of vitamin D, which reduces the absorption of calcium. As a result, your bones become weaker and you”re more likely to suffer from osteoporosis. Especially in older people, alcohol can weaken their bones, making them more susceptible to fractures from small impacts. This, combined with the natural bone loss that comes with aging, leads to more serious health problems.
The effects of alcohol aren’t just physical. Alcohol is quickly absorbed by the brain and causes brain cells to deteriorate. It especially affects the cerebrum, which controls judgment and thinking, causing people to act impulsively or make irrational decisions after drinking. Long-term excessive drinking can also lead to mental health problems such as memory impairment, depression, and anxiety.
Another problem with alcohol is that it can cause obesity. One gram of alcohol contains seven calories of energy, so excessive drinking can contribute to obesity. Especially since the snacks that are often consumed with alcohol are high in calories, drinking and eating too much at the same time can lead to rapid weight gain. Drinking alcohol causes the body to use energy inefficiently, and the remaining nutrients are stored as fat.
So, while alcohol can give us pleasure, it can also cause a lot of problems. While small amounts of alcohol can help relieve stress and strengthen social bonds, excessive drinking can have devastating effects on both the body and mind. Alcohol has played an important role in human history, but we need to be more aware of its negative effects. Staying healthy while drinking in moderation will be an important challenge for modern people.
