What is moderate drinking for Indian appetite?

We’ve all been there: We’ve vowed to reduce alcohol consumption or drink it in moderation. That’s why we have Dry and Wet January, because everyone’s New Year’s resolution seems to be to stay sober.

But before you know it, it’s your best friend’s cousin’s wedding or a gift from your boss, and suddenly you’re drinking cocktails with amusing names.

Let’s be clear: alcohol is not the best thing you can put in your body. In fact, “moderate” alcohol consumption, once considered somewhat healthy, is now under scrutiny as many experts suspect that the studies supporting the claim were riddled with flaws.

But what exactly is moderate alcohol consumption?

Simply put, moderate alcohol consumption generally refers to a level of alcohol consumption that is considered low-risk for most adults, meaning that it minimizes potential health risks while allowing for social enjoyment.

The term “moderate alcohol consumption” varies in different countries.

• In Australia and France, it is recommended that both men and women consume no more than 10 drinks per week.
• Canada’s latest guidelines define moderate alcohol consumption as no more than two total drinks per week, regardless of gender.
• For Americans, it’s one drink a day.

However, in India there is no body that recommends what is considered “moderate alcohol consumption”. However, when we put this question to the experts, they offered varying opinions on the number of drinks per week that would be considered moderate. Others dismiss the entire concept of moderate alcohol consumption and claim that even a single glass of alcohol is harmful to health.

If you’re wondering why these numbers vary from country to country, experts suspect that our geographical location may somehow influence how our bodies react to alcohol and our drinking habits. Additionally, Indians are more prone to digestive problems, which is also an important factor to consider when drinking.

Let’s delve into this in more detail.

What is moderate alcohol consumption for Indians?

It is no exaggeration to say that we Indians love our alcohol and hard spirits such as whiskey, gin and rum are often preferred over wine and vodka here.

Dr. Vikas Jindal, consultant in the department of gastroenterology at CK Birla Hospital in Delhi, says the recommended limit for alcohol consumption as per WHO guidelines is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

However, he believes it is more appropriate for Indians to stay below this limit or consume alcohol less frequently, “given the specific health risks of the population”.

Dr. Jindal explains that Indians often suffer from digestive problems due to dietary habits, spicy food and stress.

“Alcohol can worsen these problems by causing inflammation in the digestive tract, increasing acid production, and affecting gut bacteria,” says Dr. Jindal.

Dr. Biju KS, a senior medical officer at Vierroots Wellness Solutions, agrees. He says Indians are more prone to developing diabetes, metabolic disorders and heart problems than many other races.

“India is already the diabetes capital of the world. These are all risks that can be exacerbated by heavy drinking. “So if there is one country that should moderate its drinking habits to the maximum, it is India,” says Dr. Biju.

He adds that Indians are also prone to digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, stomach ulcers, gallstones, piles, bloating, bloating, etc.

“This is mediated not only by our genes, but also by our typical gut microbiome composition, which in turn is mediated by our diet and environment. “Alcohol is a major disruptor of the composition and health of the gut microbiome because it is also toxic to these microbes and can cause dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, which can cause diseases such as gastritis, pancreatitis and ulcers,” he says.

Dr. Jindal adds that external factors such as temperature can affect how our bodies metabolize alcohol, but the ideal amount of alcohol is not directly determined by temperature alone.

“In hot climates, drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration more quickly, so it’s important to stay hydrated and monitor your consumption,” says Dr. Jindal.

How many drinks are too many?

Although experts disagree about recommended alcohol consumption limits. Dr. Jindal says they remain the same across different medical conditions: It’s generally recommended for men to drink no more than two standard drinks per day, and for women no more than one standard drink.

A standard drink typically contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is equivalent to about 350 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine or 45 ml of distilled alcohol.

“There is no such thing as moderate drinking”

It’s no news that alcohol is harmful to your health. However, it is often said (and some studies have shown this) that it might be “okay” to drink alcohol in “moderate” amounts.

• For example, the American Heart Association says moderate alcohol consumption can help protect against heart disease by increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol and reducing plaque buildup in our arteries.
• Another study cited by the Harvard School of Public Health also further explains that moderate drinking, a concept of drinking in which we only drink alcohol in an amount where it doesn’t “harm” our bodies, is okay.

However, all the experts we spoke to point out that the studies on the “benefits of alcohol” are riddled with errors. It is important to note that many of these studies are purely observational, meaning they include people who self-reported their daily alcohol consumption (which can be manipulated) and were given access to their health information over a period of time.

“Once upon a time, not long ago, there were some studies that concluded that moderate alcohol consumption, say a few drinks once or twice a week, was okay or even healthy. All of this has now been refuted, at least from a purely medical perspective, recent large studies on the subject clearly prove that even such moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of several fatal lifestyle diseases, including liver disease, cancer, heart disease, stroke, digestive problems, obesity, dementia, etc “From a medical perspective, even one drink is too many, and that’s not surprising since alcohol is essentially a poison that contains no nutrients, just empty calories,” concludes Dr. Ashish George, Principal Consultant and Head of Liver Transplant Department at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

The final catch

Even consuming a single glass of alcohol is not good for your health, so it is always a good idea to reduce alcohol consumption!

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